State of Rhode Island Voting Requirements & Information

Statewide Voter Information

 

U.S. Domestic Voters

None on Record

Registration

You can register to vote or update your registration information:

  • online
  • by mail
  • in person at your elections office

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

Absentee 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 at their at their city or town hall in the 20 days leading up to the election day.

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 may preregister to vote in Rhode Island

  • At the age 16

Student Eligibility

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

Voter Registration

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

  • The 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 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 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

Domestic Voter

 In-Person Mail Fax Email Online

Voter Registration

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Absentee Ballot Request

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Blank Ballot To Voter

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Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

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Overseas & Military Voters

None on Record

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.

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

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

Overseas Voter

 In-Person Mail Fax Email Online

Voter Registration

 - -

Absentee Ballot Request

 - -

Blank Ballot To Voter

 -

Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

 - -
A faxed voter registration/ballot request form must also be followed up with the original, signed form in the mail. The FPCA must be completed entirely to request a ballot only. A voted ballot may be returned by fax only if initially received by fax.

Military Voter

 In-Person Mail Fax Email Online

Voter Registration

 - -

Absentee Ballot Request

 - -

Blank Ballot To Voter

 -

Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

 - -
A faxed voter registration/ballot request form must also be followed up with the original, signed form in the mail. The FPCA must be completed entirely to request a ballot only. A voted ballot may be returned by fax only if initially received by fax.

 

Register to Vote   Request Absentee Ballot