By John Hill
Journal staff writer

The head of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island is claiming that enough valid voter signatures have been certified to put the party on the statewide ballot next fall.

Moderate Party founder Kenneth Block said the party members had collected 33,998 signatures, sorted by municipality, and submitted them to the local boards of canvassers for review.

By law, the party needed to have at least 23,589 signatures from registered voters. Block said based on calls to individual boards of canvassers to check on how many they have verified, the party has met its goal.

"Employees of the 39 local boards of canvassers across the state of Rhode Island have now collectively certified more than 23,700 signatures; more than enough to qualify the Moderate Party of Rhode Island as a recognized political party in Rhode Island for the 2010 elections," Block said.

He estimated that about a half-dozen boards were still going over their lists, and when they are finished, Block guessed the final number would be more than 25,000 signatures.