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Rhode Island absentee and mail ballot guide
Rhode Island absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Rhode Island absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 21 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 21 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Rhode Island absentee ballot rules
You can vote by absentee ballot in Rhode Island if you are unable to vote in person for whatever reason. Examples include:
- you are unable to vote in person due to illness or physical disability
- you will be away at college
- you will be at work for the entire time that polls are open
- you live overseas
- you are an active duty member of the Armed Forces or the Merchant marines (or a spouse or dependent of such a person)
Rhode Island online ballot request
Rhode Island does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Rhode Island by-mail ballot request
- Download the Rhode Island absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: Received 21 days before Election Day.
Rhode Island in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is: 21 days before Election Day.
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Rhode Island absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Rhode Island elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Rhode Island State Board of Elections 50 Branch Ave. Providence, RI 02904‐2790
External resources
- Rhode Island online voter registration
- Rhode Island voter status lookup
- Rhode Island absentee ballot tracker
- Rhode Island provisional ballot tracker
- Rhode Island polling place locator
References
Absentee or mail ballot
Absentee or mail ballot