Women of RI: “Become Part of the Process!”
Rhode Island’s March 4th primary is more important than ever, and the Women’s Fund of RI is encouraging Rhode Island women to become part of the process by casting a ballot
PROVIDENCE, R.I., – For the smallest state in the nation, this year’s Presidential primary is garnering national attention. The Women’s Fund of Rhode Island is urging women to become part of this historic election by casting a ballot on March 4.
“We are encouraging women to head to the polls on March 4 so that issues like affordable healthcare, quality education for our children, and economic stability – all women’s issues and issues that affect our families – stay at the top of the agenda,” said Marcia Coné-Tighe, Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island. “Regardless of political affiliation we know that when women vote they are most likely to choose candidates who will pay close attention to the issues that affect the status of women in our state and in our country.”
In order to vote in a given political party’s primary in Rhode Island individuals must either be registered as a voter and member of that party or be an unaffiliated voter who affiliates with that party on the day of the primary. Individuals must have registered to vote by February 2, 2008 in order to vote in the March 4 primary.
Women who are registered Republicans or who are unaffiliated and choose to affiliate with the Republican Party on primary day will receive the State’s Republican Primary ballot upon entering their polling place. They will have the ability to choose between the following candidates, all of whom qualified to appear on the ballot: John McCain, Ron Paul, Hugh Cort, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, or Alan Keyes. In Congressional District 1 voters will also have the opportunity to choose 8 delegates to represent their chosen candidate at the Republican National Convention in September; in Congressional District 2 voters will have the opportunity to choose 9 delegates to represent their chosen candidate.
Women who are registered Democrats or who are unaffiliated and choose to affiliate with the Democratic Party on primary day will receive the State’s Democratic Primary ballot upon entering their polling place. They will have the ability to choose between the following candidates, all of whom qualified to appear on the ballot: Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, or Barack Obama. In Congressional District 1 voters will also have the opportunity to choose 6 delegates to represent their chosen candidate at the Democratic National Convention in August; in Congressional District 2 voters will have the opportunity to choose 7 delegates to represent their chosen candidate.
A list of the delegates running for each candidate can be found via a link on the Women’s Fund website along with copies of the official Republican and Democratic ballots. A link to Rhode Island’s Voter Information Center, where voters simply type in their home address to obtain a personalized list of elected officials and the location of their polling place, is also accessible via the Women’s Fund website. Please visit http://www.wfri.org to access the information mentioned.
