How to vote in Rhode Island
Rhode Island voter registration guide
Rhode Island voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 30 days before Election Day
Check your Rhode Island voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Rhode Island registration using the Rhode Island voter registration lookup tool.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Rhode Island voter registration rules
To register in Rhode Island you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Rhode Island for the 30 days before Election Day
- be 16 years old to register and 18 years old to vote
- not be currently incarcerated in a correctional facility due to a felony conviction
- not have been lawfully judged to be mentally incompetent.
Rhode Island online voter registration
- You can register to vote online if you have a Rhode Island driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
- Visit the Rhode Island online voter registration tool.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 30 days before Election Day.
Rhode Island by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Rhode Island driver's license. If you don't have one, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have either number, please write "NONE" in the box.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a politcal party if you wish to vote in that party's primary. You do not need to choose a party now, however: you can register with the party on Election Day at your polling place.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 30 days before Election Day
Rhode Island in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- N/A
Rhode Island same day registration
Rhode Island does not have same day registration.
Registering to vote in Rhode Island with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
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. Additionally, your voted ballot must be signed by 2 witnesses or a Notary Public.
Rhode Island early voting guide
Rhode Island early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 20 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day.
What to bring
You must show ID at the polls. You can show any ID issued by the State of Rhode Island or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, or a student ID issued by any accredited college or university. You can also show your birth certificate or social security card. Your ID can be expired as long as it is within 6 months of voting. If you are unable to show valid ID, you can still vote using a provisional ballot.
Rhode Island voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
You must show ID at the polls. You can show any ID issued by the State of Rhode Island or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, or a student ID issued by any accredited college or university. You can also show your birth certificate or social security card. Your ID can be expired as long as it is within 6 months of voting. If you are unable to show valid ID, you can still vote using a provisional ballot.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail 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. Additionally, your voted ballot must be signed by 2 witnesses or a Notary Public.
ID requirements to register to vote online
You can register to vote online if you have a Rhode Island driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
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