FAQ about this year’s election

Voting in Charlestown – Basic things to know By Will Collette 

RED: Precinct 501: Meadowbrook Inn (Carolina 

Back Road near Old Mill Road)

GREEN: Precinct 502: Town Hall

YELLOW: Precinct 503: Police Station

BLUE: Precinct 504: Ambulance Barn 

(just east of the police station)

When is Election Day? 

November 6. That’s TODAY. You can vote between 7 AM and 8 PM. 

Are you registered to vote? 

More than 90% of Charlestown residents are registered. Click here to see if you are registered. But if you’re not among that number, you can still cast a ballot for President (but no other office) on Election Day. Go to Town Hall.

Do you know where you are supposed to vote? 

We have four precincts and therefore four voting places this year. Most Charlestown residents will be voting in a different place than in 2008 and 2010. Click here again because this link will also tell you where you are supposed to vote. Also check out this map, also shown on this page.

Do I need to show ID? 

You will be asked to state your name and then to show an ID. Yes, it sucks and I wish Rhode Island didn’t fall for this unnecessary voter suppression gimmick, but until it is overturned by legal challenge, bring an ID. Click here to see a list of acceptable forms of ID.

Can I vote in Charlestown if I own a vacation home in Sonquiquag? 

In my opinion, the only good thing about RI’s new voter ID law is that it will make it harder for nonresidents to vote. Contrary to what the Charlestown Citizens Alliance or RI Statewide Coalition may preach, you actually have to live in RI to vote in RI, not just own property. So if all you have for ID is a Florida or Connecticut or Massachusetts driver’s license, you should go there to vote, not here. Besides, Charlestown’s nonresidents have already cast their “ballots” by funding the CCA’s 2012 election campaign.

How to pick the right team

A little mnemonic help

By Scott Keeley (a version of this letter ran in the Westerly Sun; printed with permission of the author

As a relative newcomer to idyllic Charlestown, Rhode Island, I was surprised to witness, over the last few years, a town council that has publicly pursued personal vendettas, demonized mere thoughts of wind power or affordable housing, and blithely abused the power of office with special-interest real-estate deals and corrupt vendor contracts.

Mark your calendar

Tuesday night - meet your soon-to-be new State Senator
From the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee

Batting order determined for Planning Commission candidates

Can’t tell the players without a scorecard

By Will Collette

Charlestown is the only town among the 39 cities and towns of Rhode Island that still elects its Planning Commission. State law requires planning boards to be appointed, to take the politics out of the process, but Charlestown insists it has the “grandfathered” right[1] to keep electing its Planning Commissioners.

While you can never reasonably expect to take the politics out of Planning, Charlestown is the only town that actively and deliberately makes its Planning Commission a totally political animal. And we have paid the price. But since this is the system we have, expect a lively contest for election to the Commission with the candidates arranged on the ballot in the following order:

NEW NUMBERS: The List

All Charlestown local candidates have at least 50 certified signatures posted on the Secretary of State website
By Will Collette

As of Wednesday noon, all Charlestown candidate have filed enough certified Charlestown voter signatures on their Nomination papers to qualify for the November ballot. Yesterday, Dr. Jack Donoghue shows only 12 certified signatures, but today, that number is up to 102!

The deadline for town candidates to file at least 50 valid signatures was 4 PM on Friday the Thirteenth. Even though the deadline has now passed, this tally is not necessarily final.

According to the Secretary of State's manual for candidates, the final number is posted on July 19 (tomorrow).

Some candidates may have submitted signatures right before the deadline. Those names are not reflected in the tally. The final Secretary of State count is supposed to be posted on Thursday.

To track the list for yourself, go to the RI Secretary of State's database by clicking here. Then, under City/Town, pick Charlestown from the pull-down menu.

The last column of numbers is the number of names our Town Board of Canvassers have certified as valid and sent on to the state.

Keep reading for the count as Sunday afternoon.

Democrats announce their endorsed candidates for 2012

New leadership for Charlestown

By Will Collette

If you mosey over to the newly redesigned website of the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee (still under construction, BTW), you’ll see their announcement of the slate of candidates who will be running on the Democratic ticket.

Election scorecard so far

Declarations deadline at 4 PM

By Will Collette

As of lunchtime, a healthy number of candidates for Charlestown office had filed their Declarations of candidacy. Incumbent Rep. Donna Walsh (D) will face Tina Baker Jackson (R) for the House District 36 seat.

Three incumbents have declared for Town Council so far - Boss Tom Gentz (CCA), Deputy Dan Slattery (CCA) and their ally, Lisa DiBello who has declared she is running against Progressive Charlestown. Thanks to her attack from the Council podium on Monday night and the Westerly Sun's page 1 coverage yesterday, Progressive Charlestown readership jetted up by 40%. Thank you and please keep the insults coming!