R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-15-38 (2026)

Vacancies among nominees

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) Whenever the nominee of a party for a particular office dies after the primary, or removes him or herself from the jurisdiction of or as a candidate for the office for which the nominee seeks election, or becomes physically or mentally disabled, the state committee of that party or a duly authorized subcommittee of the state committee in the case of state officers, and the appropriate city, town, ward, or district committee or any duly authorized subcommittee of them in the case of candidates for the other offices covered by § 17-15-7, may file with the appropriate authority the name of its nominee for the office; provided, that except in the case of death, the appropriate committee shall file the name with the appropriate authority no later than four o’clock (4:00) p.m. of the third (3rd) day following the last day for the holding of the party primaries; and provided, further, that any appointed nominee shall have been eligible for the nomination on the dates as required by and pursuant to the requirements of §§ 17-14-1.1, 17-14-2, and 17-14-2.1. The person so named shall be the nominee of the party for the office, and if in case of the death of a nominee time will permit, the secretary of state shall place the name of the nominee upon the election ballot. When the withdrawal or death occurs after the third (3rd) day after the last day for holding primaries, the secretary of state shall not be required to remove from any computer ballot or mail ballot which has already been printed the name of any person who is no longer the nominee of a party for a particular office as provided in this subsection, and any votes cast in any election for that person shall not be counted.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to permit the state committee of the party, or a duly authorized subcommittee of the state committee in the case of state officers, or the appropriate city, town, ward, or district committee or any duly authorized subcommittee of them in the case of candidates for the other offices covered by § 17-15-7, to file the name of a nominee for a vacant office if the vacancy is the result of the failure of candidate(s) of the party to qualify for the public office through the timely filing of sufficient nomination papers.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases, 1964–2020 · leading case: Dahl v. Begin, 660 A.2d 730 (R.I. 1995).
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Dahl v. Begin, 660 A.2d 730 (R.I. 1995). · cites it 12× “General Laws 1956 (1988 Reenactment) § 17-15-38, as amended by P.L. 1991, ch. 173, § 1, provides in pertinent part: "Vacancies among nominees.”
Holmes v. Begin, 684 A.2d 1141 (R.I. 1996). · cites it 8× “The language of G.L.1956 § 17-15-38 is not controlling since that statute deals with vacancies that result from death, disability, or the candidate removing himself or herself from the race or the jurisdiction of the office they seek.”
DeCesare v. Bd. of Elections, 242 A.2d 421 (R.I. 1968). · cites it 2× “The section provides: "Whenever the nominee of a party for a particular office dies after the primary or in the event that any other contingency occurs which would result in depriving a party of a nominee for any office and special provision has not been made for it by law, the…”
Fahey v. Darigan, 405 F. Supp. 1386 (D.R.I. 1975). · cites it 2× “G.L. § 17-15-38. In making an inquiry similar to the one at bar in Seergy v.”
Angela Craig v. Steve Simon, 978 F.3d 1043 (8th Cir. 2020). · cites it 2× “§ 2939 ; 17 R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-15-38 (a); S.C. Code Ann.”
Berk v. LaFrance, 203 A.2d 760 (R.I. 1964). “1956, §17-15-38. Thomas H. Needham and Robert Braucher, Cambridge, Mass.”
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