State of Rhode Island Elections & Voting
Election Day is November 8
- October 9 Deadline to submit voter registration
- October 19 First day of early in-person voting
- October 19 First day to submit absentee ballot applications
- November 7 Last day of early in-person voting
- November 7 Deadline to submit absentee ballot applications
- November 8 Election day
To register to vote in Rhode Island, you must:
- Be a United States citizen
- Be a resident of Rhode Island
- Be at least 18 years old
- Not be incarcerated in a correctional facility upon a felony conviction
- Not be presently judged “mentally incompetent” to vote by a court of law
How to register to vote:
- To register online: Go to your Voter Information Center. Remember to have your Rhode Island driver’s license or state ID ready.
- To register by mail: Download the voter registration form. Mail the completed form to your local board of canvassers.
- To register in person: Download the voter registration form. Bring the completed form to your local board of canvassers.
- Rhode Island allows for same day voter registration for the Presidential Elections only.
Voter ID Requirements
Poll workers will ask you to show a Photo ID when you vote at your polling place. Voter ID strengthens the public’s faith in the integrity of our elections by enabling poll workers to match a voter’s name to their face.
IDs must be valid and not have expired more than six (6) months prior to voting, but they do not need to have your current address.
- RI driver’s license/permit
- S. passport
- ID card issued by any federally recognized tribal government
- ID card issued by an educational institution in the U.S.
- S. military ID card
- ID card issued by the U.S. government or State of Rhode Island (RIPTA bus pass, etc.)
- Government issued medical card
- RI Voter ID card
No eligible voter will be turned away at the polls. Voters who do not bring ID to the polls can vote using a standard provisional ballot, which will be counted if the signature they give at the polling place matches the signature on their voter registration card. Mail ballots will not require Voter ID.
Absentee Voting
Rhode Island voters who are unable, or prefer not, to go the polls on Election Day can vote by mail. Follow the steps below to apply for and vote with a mail ballot.
- Download the mail ballot application.
- Submit your mail ballot application to your local board of canvassers.
- The local board of canvassers will review your application and compare your signature with the signature on your voter record.
Party Affiliation
If you are affiliated with a political party, you may only vote in that party’s primary. Unaffiliated, also known as independent, voters can vote in any party primary but, by casting a vote in a party primary, you automatically become affiliated with that party.
If you want to return to an unaffiliated status after voting by mail, you may do so by updating your record here and changing your party affiliation. You can also complete a new paper voter registration form or contact your local board of canvassers. You will officially return to your unaffiliated status in 30 days
Resources
- Guide for Voter Registration Drives in Rhode Island
- Native American Voting Rights (NAVRA)
- A Tribal Leaders Guide to Prepare for the Next Election
- Addressing: A Guide for Tribes
- Native Language Speakers Have Voting Rights!
- Examples of Voter Discrimination and Suppression in Indian Country
- Native Americans Depend on Ballot Collection
Tribes in Rhode Island
Federally recognized tribes
- Narragansett Indian Tribe
State recognized tribes
- None
Native Vote Coordinators
Sign up to be a local Native Vote coordinator.
Major Party Contact Information
Democrat
Chairman, Joseph McNamara
www.ridemocrats.org
Republican
Chairman, Brandon S. Bell
www.ri.gop
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