Provide candidates an electronic alternative to in-person ballot petition forms

During this time of COVID-19, we as a society are having to adapt to a restructuring as we try to minimize cases of COVID-19 and reduce the burden on our hospital systems. As Rhode Island begins to slowly reopen, there exists a significant chance that spikes in COVID-19 cases will trigger stay at home orders or significantly slow the transition into additional reopening phases. This is a difficult reality we are facing. An additional aspect that we as a society need to reckon with is that this is an election year. Elections with integrity are fundamental in preserving democracy. Candidates looking to be on the ballot need to collect signatures from a minimum of 50 people. These signatures, as current rules stand must be collected in person on a ballot petition form. Asking candidates to collect signatures during a pandemic when people are being asked by the CDC to minimize contact and social distance is completely abhorrent. Asking candidates to collect signatures in person would put countless folks at risk and as a result, it would undermine efforts to minimize COVID-19 exposure and create the conditions for normal economic activity.