A controversy has emerged in Rhode Island following the discovery of deceased voters’ names on the nomination papers of Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. This development has raised concerns about the integrity of the nomination process in the state.
The state’s deputy director of elections, Miguel J. Nunez, sent a cautionary email to local boards, highlighting an “unusually high” number of invalidated signatures in Coventry County, Rhode Island. Nunez urged vigilance against potential fraudulent activities involving nomination forms, particularly those collected by individuals associated with Ramaswamy’s campaign.
The Warwick Board of Canvassers reported finding several names of deceased voters on Ramaswamy’s nomination papers, a finding that echoed across multiple counties.
Boards of canvassers in Hopkinton and Providence counties also noted a higher-than-usual percentage of invalid signatures on Ramaswamy’s paperwork. In Providence alone, six dead voters were reportedly found on the paperwork, according to the Rhode Island Current.
In response to these allegations, Ramaswamy’s spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, stated that an employee of Ground Game Political Solutions LLC, a Missouri-based firm hired to collect nomination signatures, had intentionally used the names of deceased voters. The employee in question has been terminated from their position. McLaughlin expressed surprise at the incident, noting that the vendor had successfully assisted with signature collection in at least four other states without issues. Ground Game Political Solutions LLC has initiated an internal investigation to address the situation.
This incident is not isolated to Ramaswamy’s campaign alone. The NoLabels party, also aiming for ballot access in Rhode Island for the first time, encountered similar issues with deceased voters’ names appearing on its petition.
Despite these challenges, Ramaswamy’s campaign managed to secure 1,174 signatures, surpassing the 1,000 signature threshold required for ballot eligibility in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island has previously faced similar allegations of fraudulent signatures. In 2022, the campaign of Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos was accused of fabricating signatures in a comparable manner. A criminal investigation into that matter is still ongoing.
The incident has brought attention to the practices of political organizing firms and the measures in place to safeguard the electoral process. With the presidential election approaching, the effectiveness of these safeguards is of paramount importance.
Ground Game Political Solutions LLC’s response to the situation, including the firing of the implicated employee and the launch of an internal investigation, signifies an effort to address the issue and prevent similar occurrences in the future. The Warwick Police have been notified of the fraudulent activity, indicating that legal consequences may follow.
This scandal comes at a critical time as presidential candidates finalize their nomination papers in preparation for the upcoming primary elections. The integrity of these papers is essential for a fair and democratic electoral process.
