Candidates for Rhode Island (RI) Senate sought injunctive relief from RI statutory ballot qualification requiring in-person solicitation and receipt of signatures, in-person witness, and wet signature of common petition form. Court granted injunctive relief for 2020 candidate nomination process only. Defendants are permitted to email nomination paper to voters and to receive them electronically and to return the completed nomination papers to the appropriate board of canvassers in person, via physical drop box, US Regular or Express mail, or facsimile. Plaintiffs asserted the nomination process needlessly exposes candidates, their supporters, and the general public to risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic with no justifiable countervailing interest.
https://healthyelections-case-tracker.stanford.edu/detail?id=122