Rhode Island Voting Requirements & Information

U.S. Vote Foundation’s Rhode Island Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Rhode Island voting rules and options. It focuses on Rhode Island-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Rhode Island voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Rhode Island voting tools. It's an all-in-one Rhode Island voting resource.

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

Rhode Island Federal and State Elections

Tue Apr 2, 2024 - Rhode Island Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Received by
Sun Mar 3, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue Mar 12, 2024 4:00PM EDT
  • Emergency Ballot Period
    From Wed Mar 13, 2024 to Mon Apr 1, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Submitted by
Tue Apr 2, 2024 8:00PM EDT

Early Voting Available

Early Voting
From Wed Mar 13, 2024 to Mon Apr 1, 2024

Tue Sep 10, 2024 - Rhode Island State Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Received by
Sun Aug 11, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue Aug 20, 2024 4:00PM EDT
  • Emergency Ballot Period
    From Wed Aug 21, 2024 to Mon Sep 9, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Submitted by
Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:00PM EDT

Early Voting Available

Early Voting
From Wed Aug 21, 2024 to Mon Sep 9, 2024

General Information

Registration

You can register to vote or update your registration information:

  • online
  • by mail
  • in person at your elections office
  • at some public assistance offices and motor vehicle offices

Election Day Voting

Polling places are open from 7am to 8pm on Election Day. New Shoreham polls are open at 9am.

Find my polling place

Mail-In Voting

Note: no specific reason is necessary to request a vote-by-mail ballot. If you may not be able to get to the polls on Election Day, you can fill out a mail ballot application and receive a mail ballot.

Early Voting

Any registered voter may vote early with an emergency mail ballot at their city or town hall in the 20 days leading up to the election day. In person Emergency Ballots will now be voted and inserted into the voting machine at the Board of Canvassers. The process now requires emergency voters to check in on the electronic poll book using an acceptable form of photo ID.

Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to vote in Rhode Island if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen
  • Are a resident of Rhode Island
  • Are at least 18 years old by Election Day

You are NOT eligible to vote in Rhode Island if:

  • You are in prison or jail for a felony conviction.
  • You were disqualified from voting due to a court order

Restorative Requirements

  • If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.

You may preregister to vote in Rhode Island

  • At the age 16

If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Rhode Island if:

  • You reside in Rhode Island but are attending college in another state
  • You reside in another state but attend college in Rhode Island
  • You provide a valid photo student ID from a college/university at the polls

Identification Requirements

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Rhode Island you should provide one of the following:

  • Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
  • Your Rhode Island Driver's License Number
  • Your Rhode Island ID Number

If you do not have any of these IDs, you will be required to provide ID to an election official before voting the first time. Acceptable forms of ID include:

  • Valid Employee ID
  • Valid Student ID
  • Debit or Credit Card
  • Medicare
  • University Tuition Bill
  • Public Housing ID Card
  • Government Check
  • Valid Rhode Island Voter ID Card
  • Bank Statement
  • Paycheck that Shows your Current Name and Address
  • Medicaid Card issued by the government
  • Health Club ID Card
  • Valid US Passport
  • Valid Rhode Island issued ID
  • Valid Military ID
  • ID Card provided by a commercial establishment
  • University Housing Bill
  • Insurance Plan ID Card
  • Valid Federal issued ID
  • Utility Bill

Statements, checks and bills should be dated no earlier than the date of the last election

Voting In-Person

In Rhode Island, you need to show a valid ID to vote. You can use any ID from this list:

  • Valid Rhode Island Voter ID Card with Photo
  • Valid Federal Issued ID
  • Valid Military ID
  • Valid Rhode Island Driver's License
  • Valid Student ID
  • Government Issued Medical Card
  • Valid US Passport
  • Valid Rhode Island Issued ID

Witness / Notarization Requirements

An absentee ballot must include ONLY ONE the following in order to be counted:

  • Two Witness Signatures: Witnesses Must Be At Least 18 Years Old
  • Notarization

Exceptions may apply for disabled voters. Please contact your local election official.

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Domestic Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?

State Elections Website

State Voter Registration FAQ

Overseas / Military Voter Information

Where are my Early Voting Locations?

For Ballot Dropbox Locations: Contact Local Election Office

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

Rhode Island Federal and State Elections

Tue Apr 2, 2024 - Rhode Island Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Submitted by
Sun Mar 3, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue Mar 12, 2024 4:00PM EDT
  • Emergency Ballot Request From Wed Mar 13, 2024
  • Emergency Ballot Request To Mon Apr 1, 2024 4:00PM EDT

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Received by
Fri Apr 5, 2024 4:00PM EDT

Tue Sep 10, 2024 - Rhode Island State Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Submitted by
Sun Aug 11, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Tue Aug 20, 2024 4:00PM EDT

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Received by
Fri Sep 13, 2024 4:00PM EDT

Eligibility Requirements

Overseas Voters

U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:

  • Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.

Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.

Military Voters

Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.

  • If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.

To vote as a service member or eligible family member:

  • Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.

Identification Requirements

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Your state does not require an ID to be provided in order to register your ballot.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Your state does not require an ID to be provided in order to register your ballot.

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Overseas Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

Military Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?

State Elections Website

State Voter Registration FAQ

Overseas / Military Voter Information

Where are my Early Voting Locations?

For Ballot Dropbox Locations: Contact Local Election Office