Voting in Rhode Island
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.
This article includes the following information about voting policies in Rhode Island:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information election agencies.
- Summaries of noteworthy policy-related events.
See Election administration in Rhode Island for more additional information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Voter registration
The table below displays voter registration information specific to Rhode Island's 2024 election cycle.
Eligibility and registration details
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Rhode Island, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Rhode Island, and at least 16 years old. To voter, one must be at least 18 years old by Election Day.[1] Applicants can register online, by mailing in a voter registration form, or in person at the local board of canvassers or other state agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Human Services, or the Department of Mental Health.[1]
In-person voting
The table below displays in-person voting information specific to Rhode Island's 2024 election cycle.
Poll times
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
While most polls in Rhode Island open at 7 a.m. Eastern Time, certain municipalities may opt to open their polls later. In New Shoreham, for example, polls open at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. All polls statewide close at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[2]
Voter identification
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Rhode Island requires voters to present photo identification (ID) while voting. Accepted forms of ID include a Rhode Island driver's license, Rhode Island voter ID card, and U.S. passport. For a list of all accepted forms of ID, see below.
The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Rhode Island Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
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- *The Rhode Island Secretary of State's office is issuing free voter photo ID cards to individuals who do not possess any of the valid Photo IDs listed above. For additional information, visit Rhode Island's online Voter Information Center, call 401-222-2340, or email [email protected].
Early voting
- See also: Early voting
Rhode Island permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
The table below displays absentee voting information specific to Rhode Island's 2024 election cycle.
All Rhode Island voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail.[4]
Absentee ballot applications must be received by your local board of canvassers by 4 p.m. 21 days prior to the election. Completed absentee ballots must then be received by your local board of canvassers by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Should circumstances arise within 20 days of an election that will prevent a voter from making it to the polls on Election Day, he or she may qualify for an emergency mail ballot. More information regarding the emergency mail ballot process can be found here.[4][5][6]
Local election officials
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
In Rhode Island, people convicted of a felony lose their right to vote while incarcerated. Upon completion of their prison time, voting rights are automatically restored when the person either notifies their local board of canvassers in writing or submits a new voter registration form. Click here for a list of local boards of canvassers.[1]
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[7]
Election administration agencies
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Rhode Island can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Rhode Island Local Boards of Canvassers
State of Rhode Island Board of Elections
- 2000 Plainfield Pike, Suite A
- Cranston, Rhode Island 02921
- Phone: 401-222-2345
- Fax: 401-222-3135
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://elections.ri.gov
Rhode Island Department of State Elections Division
- 148 West River Street
- Providence, Rhode Island 02904-2615
- Phone: 401-222-2340
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://vote.sos.ri.gov
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Noteworthy events
2017
On July 19, 2017, Governor Gina Raimondo (D) signed into law H5702, making Rhode Island the ninth state to adopt automatic voter registration. H5702 cleared the Rhode Island House of Representatives on May 31, 2017, by a vote of 62-10 (with three members not voting). The Rhode Island State Senate approved H5702 on June 30, 2017, by a vote of 27-5 (with five members not voting). The law established that Rhode Island citizens be automatically registered to vote when they visit Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) branches for driver's license or personal identification document applications or renewals. The law was scheduled to take effect 30 days after the director of the DMV certified to state lawmakers that the state's motor vehicle licensing system could meet the requirements established by the law.[8][9][10]
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.
Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
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The Ballot Bulletin
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Recent issues
Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.
- The Ballot Bulletin: August 16, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: August 9, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: August 2, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: July 26, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: July 19, 2024
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Ballotpedia's election coverage
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2024
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2024
- State legislative Democratic primaries, 2024
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2024
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2024
- Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
- Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2024
- Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2024
- State legislative Republican primaries, 2024
See also
- 2024 election dates and deadlines
- Voter ID in Rhode Island
- Election administration in Rhode Island
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Rhode Island
Elections in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island elections, 2024
- Rhode Island elections, 2023
- Rhode Island elections, 2022
- Rhode Island elections, 2021
- Rhode Island elections, 2020
- Rhode Island elections, 2019
- Rhode Island elections, 2018
- Rhode Island elections, 2017
- Rhode Island elections, 2016
- Rhode Island elections, 2015
- Rhode Island elections, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rhode Island Department of State, "Register to Vote," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections, "General Election Polling Place Hours," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rhode Island Department of State, "Vote from Home with a Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Apply for a Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Vote by Emergency Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
- ↑ Rhode Island General Assembly, "H 5702," accessed July 20, 2017
- ↑ The Hill, "Rhode Island becomes ninth state to enact automatic voter registration," July 19, 2017
- ↑ U.S. News and World Report, "Governor OKs Rhode Island Automatic Voter Registration Bill," July 19, 2017
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