Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, RI -- A federal judge Friday ruled unconstitutional the state's requirement that new political parties must wait until Jan. 1 of an election year to collect the signatures they need to get on the statewide ballot, the man who challenged the statute said.

But Kenneth Block said U.S. District Court Judge William Smith let stand the part of Rhode Island law that says parties such as Block's Moderate Party of Rhode Island must get signatures equal to 5 percent of the voter turnout in the last state election.

Though the 5 percent threshold is high, Block said being allowed to gather petition signatures before Jan. 1, 2010, will be a big help.

"Being able to start right away is just crucial," he said.

Extra: Read the ruling

 Tags  Moderate Party of Rhode Island

Comments

Alan B said:

I would like to know how to sign that petition.

Link | May 29, 2009 6:23 PM
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