Board of Elections votes to review signatures in Matos’ CD1 campaign

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Board of Elections voted Tuesday to launch its own investigation into the possibility that Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos gathered fraudulent signatures in her effort to get on the ballot for Congress.

The board’s first motion to review all signatures submitted for Sabina Matos for the First Congressional District race passed with five votes in favor and two against.

In response to the vote, Matos’ campaign released the following statement, “The Board of Elections and Secretary of State determined that the campaign had more than enough signatures certified by the local Boards of Canvassers to ensure Lt. Governor Matos’ place on the ballot. Rhode Islanders deserve to have confidence in our democratic process. We too want to understand what transpired with our nomination papers and we look forward to hearing the results of this review.”

The Jamestown Board of Canvassers reportedly found inconsistencies with some of the names given to them last week by Matos’ campaign assistants.