Rhode Island Voting Guide

Am I eligible to vote in Rhode Island?

To be eligible to vote in Rhode Island, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• A resident of Rhode Island
• At least 18 years old on Election Day

You can register to vote in Rhode Island once you turn 16. You can only vote once you turn 18.

You lose your voter eligibility in the following situations:

• You have a felony conviction and are serving a sentence in prison. Once you complete your sentence, election officials restore your voting rights. You must re-register to vote.
• The Rhode Island courts have deemed you mentally incompetent

You can check your voting status at Rhode Island’s election website.

When is Rhode Island’s voter registration deadline?

Rhode Island does not have a voter registration deadline for presidential elections. You can register at the polls at any time.

If you want to vote in other federal, state, and local elections, you must register to vote at least 30 days before the respective election. The same is true for special elections, such as school board elections.

How do I request an absentee ballot in Rhode Island?

To receive an absentee/mail ballot, you must complete and submit a mail ballot application form. You can download this form online, pick one up at your local board of canvassers, or contact your local State Board of Elections and ask them to send an application to you.

Once you correctly fill out the mail ballot application form, submit it to your local board of canvassers. You must submit your form before 4:00 pm on the 21st day before the election date.

You can request an emergency ballot if an emergency keeps you from getting to the polls. You must submit this ballot after the 21st day before the election.

What do I need to bring to the polls in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island law requires that you show valid personal identification when checking in at your polling place.

Some forms of valid photo ID include:

• A Rhode Island driver’s license/permit
• U.S. passport
• Voter ID card
• Student ID from a legitimate educational institution
• U.S. Military ID

If you plan on voting in an upcoming election, ensure you have a valid ID. When you arrive at your voting location, you must show your ID to a poll worker. You may have trouble casting your ballot if you don’t have an ID.

If you’ve forgotten your ID or don’t have one at the polls, you can still file a provisional ballot. Your vote will be counted if the provisional ballot is approved.

What special accommodations are available?

In addition to mail ballots, voters with disabilities who wish to vote in person have accommodations at their local polling place. Every polling place has an ExpressVote voting machine with multiple features that help voters with disabilities cast their ballots.

For additional information on the ExpressVote machines and voter accessibility, visit the Rhode Island Elections website.

What should I do if I see something illegal at the polls?

Contact the Rhode Island Board of Elections or an election worker if you witness illegal activity at the polls.

If someone violates your voting rights, contact the Board of Elections. You may also want to consider contacting a legal professional who specializes in voting law.