Clone of Board of Canvassers

What to know about the Upcoming 2023 Special General Election (November 7, 2023)

October 8, 2023: Deadline to register to vote in Special General Election
Registration is quick and simple online at vote.ri.gov

October 17, 2023: Deadline to apply for a mail ballot
Apply for a mail ballot by October 17 at vote.ri.gov or call the Central Falls Board of Canvassers at 401-727-7400 x 2414.

October 18 - November 6, 2023: Early voting for Special General Election
Need to vote early? Vote at City Hall during normal operating hours.

November 7, 2023: Special General Election
Vote at your poll site (which may be different for this special election). Confirm your polling site below, or call 401-727-7400 x 2414.

Your polling location for the 2023 Special Election may be DIFFERENT!
The city has just three dedicated polling locations for this upcoming Special Election. It's important to note some residents will not vote at their "normal" polling location for this election. The three designated polling locations are below. 

1. Forand Manor (30 Washington Street): Vote here if you usually vote at Central Falls High School or Calcutt Middle School. 
2. Wilfrid Manor (466 Hunt Street): Vote here if you usually vote at Wilfrid Manor, Ella Risk School, or Veterans Memorial Elementary School. 
3. Knights of Columbus (20 Claremont Street): Vote here if you usually vote at Capt. G.H. Hunt School or Knights of Columbus. 

Polling locations will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00pm on Election Day. Please call 401-727-7400 x 2414 if you have any questions regarding which polling location you should visit on Election Day.

What's on the November 7, 2023 ballot?

• Candidates for Congressional District 1 seat
• Three (3) proposed amendments to the Central Falls City Charter that include:
  1. Changes that focus on promoting nondiscrimination and equity (full details below)
  2. Changes related to police and fire department appointments within the city (full details below)
  3. Changes related to outdated election laws within the city's charter (full details below)

What are the details of the three proposed amendments to the City Charter?

Charter Question #1 (full explanation)

CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING NONDISCRIMINATION AND EQUITY: Shall sections 8-109 and 9-104 of the Charter be created to reflect inclusivity and equity by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, national origin or citizenship status; requiring public engagement that emphasizes justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as the equal protection of all residents; and replacing all gender-specific discriminatory references?

Explanation: The provided charter amendment proposes changes to the existing city charter with a focus on promoting nondiscrimination and equity.

1. Creation of Sections 8-109 and 9-104: This amendment proposes the creation of two new sections within the city's charter. These sections, 8-109 and 9-104, would outline the principles and regulations related to nondiscrimination and equity.
2. Prohibition of Discrimination: The proposed sections would explicitly prohibit discrimination based on various factors, including race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, national origin, or citizenship status. This means that no one can be unfairly treated or disadvantaged in the city on these grounds.
3. Emphasis on Inclusivity and Equity: The amendment seeks to emphasize the values of inclusivity and equity in all city matters. This affirms that city policies, programs, and practices should be designed and implemented with a focus on ensuring fairness and equal treatment for all residents, regardless of their background or characteristics.
4. Public Engagement for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: The amendment requires public engagement processes to prioritize principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. This means that when the city engages with the public, it should actively seek input and involvement from a wide range of individuals and communities, with a commitment to promoting fairness and diversity.
5. Equal Protection of All Residents: The proposed sections also emphasize the equal protection of all residents. This reaffirms the commitment to ensuring that every resident in the city is treated fairly and with the same level of protection under the law.
6. Replacing Gender-Specific Discriminatory References: Lastly, the amendment seeks to replace any gender-specific discriminatory references in the existing charter.

Overall, this charter amendment is aimed at making the city's charter more inclusive, equitable, and nondiscriminatory by explicitly prohibiting various forms of discrimination and promoting principles of justice, diversity, and equal protection for all residents. It also acknowledges the need to update and modernize language to remove gender-specific discrimination.

Charter Question #2 (full explanation) 

CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING POLICE AND FIRE APPOINTMENTS: Shall sections 4-701 and 702 of the Charter be amended to allow the Department of Public Safety to give preference in hiring to Central Falls residents, veterans of foreign wars, and/or multilingual candidates and to set the minimum age requirement for fire candidates to 18 years old?

Explanation: The provided charter amendment proposes changes related to police and fire department appointments within the city.

1. Amendment to Sections 4-701 and 4-702 of the Charter: This amendment seeks to modify two specific sections of the city's charter, namely sections 4-701 and 4-702. These sections contain regulations and guidelines related to the appointment and hiring of personnel within the police and fire departments.
2. Preference in Hiring: The proposed changes would allow the Department of Public Safety to give preference in hiring to three specific groups:
   1. Central Falls Residents: This means that residents of Central Falls would be given preferential treatment in the hiring process. They would have an advantage when applying for positions in the police and fire departments.
   2. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): To qualify for preferential treatment, individuals must present proof of their membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, acknowledging and rewarding the service of military veterans.
   3. Multilingual Candidates: Candidates who are proficient in multiple languages would also receive preferential treatment.
3. Minimum Age Requirement for Fire Candidates: The amendment proposes to set the minimum age requirement for fire department candidates at 18 years old, provided they meet other eligibility criteria, to bring the City in line with the Rhode Island Fire Training Academy which is also 18 years old.

This charter amendment aims to adjust hiring practices within the fire department, introducing preferences for certain groups and reducing the minimum age requirement for fire department candidates from 21 to 18. Voters will decide whether to approve these changes through a ballot measure on November 7th, 2023. The intent behind these adjustments includes promoting local hiring, recognizing veterans' service, and enhancing language diversity within this essential service.

Charter Question # 3 (full explanation)

CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING REPEALING OUTDATED ELECTION LAWS: Shall sections 6-104, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 116, 119, 120, 121, 122, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138 and 139 of the Charter be repealed and section 6-115 be amended to ensure that the Charter is in accordance with state election laws?

Explanation: The provided charter amendment seeks to standardize city election laws in conformity with state election laws.

1. Repealing Multiple Sections: This amendment proposes the repeal of numerous sections within the city's charter, specifically sections 6-104, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 116, 119, 120, 121, 122, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, and 139. These sections contain various provisions and regulations related to local elections.

Overall, this charter amendment is focused on streamlining and modernizing the city's election laws by repealing a large number of outdated sections and making changes to ensure compliance with state election laws. By doing so, the city aims to bring its charter up to date and in line with current election practices and legal requirements. The intent behind this amendment is to improve the efficiency and legality of the local election process.

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List of Central Falls Voting Precincts

Precinct 0401 Calcutt Middle School 112 Washington St.(Entrance on Perry Street)

Precinct 0402 Central Falls High School 24 Summer St.

Precinct 0403 Wilfrid Manor 466 Hunt St.(Entrance on School St.)

Precinct 0404 Capt. G.H. Hunt School 12 Kendall St.

Precinct 0405 Knights of Columbus 20 Claremont St.

Precinct 0406 Ella Risk School 949 Dexter St. 

Precinct 0407 Veterans Memorial Elementary School 150 Fuller Ave.

Precinct 0408 City Hall-Limited 580 Broad St.

Precinct 0409 City Hall-President Only 580 Broad St.

View Meetings

The Board of Canvassers of the City of Central Falls is responsible for registering residents to vote, managing all elections in the city and maintaining all election information. The Board of Canvassers works very closely with the Board of Elections and the Secretary of the State’s Office to implement election laws and establish procedures.

Board Members

1. Bryant Estrada
2. Freeman T. Freeman
3. Ryan Oldmixon

Are you interested in working on election day? View the application and job description.