How to vote in Rhode Island
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 30 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 21 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 21 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
Rhode Island voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- 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 site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
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.
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 site.
- 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.
- 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: In Rhode Island, a person must register with a party if they wish to take part in that party’s primary election. A person who fails to register with a party at the time of registration may, if they choose, register with a party on the day of that party’s primary and take part in that party’s primary election. If a person does not register with a party, they can still vote in general elections and nonpartisan primary elections.
- 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 by 30 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your Rhode Island driver's license or non-driver ID card issued by the RI Division of Motor Vehicles. If you don’t have one, you must provide the last four digits of your social security number.
- Summary: Rhode Island has Election Day registration. You can register and vote on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Same-day voter registration is available only for Election Day and you can vote only for president and vice president. Locations are set by your local board of canvassers. Click here to find out where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your Rhode Island driver's license or non-driver ID card issued by the RI Division of Motor Vehicles. If you don’t have one, you must provide the last four digits of your social security number.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are immediately restored when you are released from prison. You can register to vote on probation or parole.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Rhode Island absentee and mail ballot guide
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
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 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
Any registered Rhode Island voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- Visit the Rhode Island absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 21 days before Election Day.
- 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.
- Your application must be received by 21 days before Election Day.
- 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.
- 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 drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- 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.
- 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.
Track your ballot here: Rhode Island absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by 4:00 pm on the 7th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You may apply for an emergency absentee ballot 20 days before through 4PM 1 day before Election Day.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 4PM 1 day before Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Rhode Island early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 20 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
You must show a photo ID when you vote. The ID must be current or have expired within 6 months of the election.
Accepted photo IDs include:
- Rhode Island driver's license/permit or non-driver ID card issued by the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- US passport or passport card
- Military ID
- Tribal ID
- Any photo ID card issued by the state of Rhode Island or federal government
- Government-issued medical card with a photo
Rhode Island voter ID guide
You must show a photo ID when you vote. The ID must be current or have expired within 6 months of the election.
Accepted photo IDs include:
- Rhode Island driver's license/permit or non-driver ID card issued by the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- US passport or passport card
- Military ID
- Tribal ID
- Any photo ID card issued by the state of Rhode Island or federal government
- Government-issued medical card with a photo
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
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.
You can register to vote online if you have a Rhode Island driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
Bring your Rhode Island driver's license or non-driver ID card issued by the RI Division of Motor Vehicles. If you don’t have one, you must provide the last four digits of your social security number.
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