With time running out, GOP candidates struggle to get enough signatures for RI's presidential primary

Editors Note: For the most recent story on this issue, read: ''Unusually high' number of signatures invalidated from GOP presidential candidate nominating papers'

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island Republicans are having difficulty collecting the minimum number of signatures required to get their candidates on the state's presidential primary ballot, and at least two communities have found a higher-than-usual number of invalid signatures on nominating papers.

The Board of Canvassers in Coventry alerted state elections officials on Tuesday to a potential problem with the signatures on the nominating papers of at least one GOP candidate for president, Vivek G. Ramaswamy. Secretary of State Gregg Amore's office told The Journal that Warwick also reported problems with candidate signatures.

Elaborating, Board of Elections spokesman Christopher Hunter said officials in both communities found an "unusually high number of invalidated signatures and instances of deceased voters submitted on behalf of presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy."

With one day to go until the deadline for the candidates to submit their nominating papers for placement on the Rhode Island presidential primary ballot, only three candidates had submitted the minimum 1,000 signatures required by 4 p.m: President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and political newcomer Dean Phillips, running as a Democrat. (The signatures still have to be certified, so none have qualified for the ballot yet.)

Only Trump crosses RI's signature threshold

All of the Republican contenders, except Trump, were still running short of the required number. Here's how many each had submitted – which have not yet been certified – as of 5 p.m.:

• Trump had 1,055

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had 858

• Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley had 812

• Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had 731

• Ramaswamy, the investor and former pharmaceutical company CEO running an "outsider" campaign, had 973

Signature issues in Coventry and Warwick

A spokeswoman for the secretary of state told The Journal: "Our office has been contacted by two local boards of canvassers – Coventry and Warwick – regarding signatures on nomination papers for presidential candidates. We referred them both to the BOE as we have no investigatory or enforcement authority in this regard."

The problem in Coventry seemed limited on Wednesday to the signatures on Ramaswamy's nominating papers, according to Miguel Nunez, the deputy director of elections for the state Board of Elections.

Nunez told The Journal he received a call on Tuesday from the Coventry Board of Canvassers.

"They wanted to make us aware they were invalidating a higher number" of signatures than usual on certain nominating papers, he said.

"We don't know the extent of it," Nunez said. "We are looking into it further."

At that point, he said, he had not yet seen all of the nominating sheets submitted on Ramaswamy's behalf, and was unaware of any significant problems with the paperwork submitted on behalf of the other candidates.

The Coventry Board of Canvassers has referred questions to the state Board of Elections. The Warwick Board of Canvassers has not responded to Journal inquiries.

Hunter, the Board of Elections spokesman, said: "The board has notified all local boards of canvassers of irregularities identified by the Coventry and Warwick boards regarding signatures submitted on behalf of presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

"The board has asked all local boards to be vigilant and report any irregularities to the BOE."

More: Who will be on the ballot for the presidential primary in RI? Lineup takes shape on Thursday.

'There's no easy way of putting this'

State Republican Party Chairman Joe Powers blasted out an email on Tuesday that suggested a bigger problem for the GOP.

"Folks, there is no easy way of putting this," he wrote. "But if we do not get the minimum of 1,000 signatures in the next three days, our Republican presidential candidates will not be on the April ballot."

"Unfortunately, a few Boards of Canvassers have rejected some signatures without a clear reason," he continued. "As of now, understanding the cause is not our priority; we can address that later. What's crucial is that we need EVERYONE's help to gather as many signatures as possible."

Neither Powers nor the state GOP's executive director, Jesus Solorio, responded to Journal inquiries about the alleged irregularities and whether the state GOP and the candidates relied on paid signature gatherers.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Will GOP candidates make the RI presidential primary ballot?