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:

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 2023 election cycle.

Voter registration in Rhode Island District 1: Nov. 7, 2023, election.

Could people register to vote online? If so, what was the link?

vote.sos.ri.gov

Could voters check their registration status online? If so, what was the link?

vote.sos.ri.gov

Could voters update their registration online? If so, what was the link?

vote.sos.ri.gov

What was the deadline for registering in person?

Oct. 8, 2023

What was the deadline for registering by mail?

Oct. 8, 2023

Was the mail-in registration deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

What was the online registration deadline, if available?

Oct. 8, 2023

Was Election Day registration available?

Yes

Was same-day registration available during early voting?

N/A

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 2023 election cycle.

In-person voting in Rhode Island District 1: Nov. 7, 2023, election.

Were all voters required to show ID?

Yes

What kinds of ID were accepted?

RI Driver's License or Permit RI Voter ID Card U.S. Passport ID issued by a U.S. educational institution U.S. military ID ID card issued by the United States or the State of Rhode Island Government issued medical card or Tribal ID

Where could voters learn more about the state's voter ID requirements?

elections.ri.gov

When did early voting start?

Oct. 18, 2023

When did early voting end?

Nov. 6, 2023

Where can I find early voting locations?

N/A

Was weekend voting available?

N/A

Where could voters learn more about early voting?

N/A

What were the poll times on Election Day?

7:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Where can I find voting locations?

vote.sos.ri.gov

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.

“
  • RI Driver's License or Permit
  • RI Voter ID Card *
  • U.S. Passport
  • ID issued by a U.S. educational institution
  • U.S. military ID
  • ID card issued by the United States or the State of Rhode Island
  • Government issued medical card
  • Tribal ID[3]
 ”
  • *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 elections@sos.ri.gov.

Early voting

See also: Early voting

Rhode Island permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

The table below displays absentee voting information specific to Rhode Island's 2023 election cycle.

Absentee voting in Rhode Island District 1: Nov. 7, 2023, election.

Were there limits on who can request a ballot?

N/A

What was the deadline for requesting a ballot by mail?

Oct. 17, 2023

Was the request deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

What was the deadline for returning a voted ballot by mail?

Nov. 7, 2023

Was the return deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

Were there notary or witness requirements?

N/A

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

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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

See also: Voting rights for convicted felons

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 agencies

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See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Rhode Island can contact the following state and federal agencies.

Rhode Island Secretary of State, Elections Division

148 West River Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02904-2615
Telephone: 401-222-2340
Email: elections@sos.ri.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

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]

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See also

Elections in Rhode Island


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rhode Island Department of State, "Register to Vote," accessed April 18, 2023
  2. ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections, "General Election Polling Place Hours," accessed April 18, 2023
  3. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rhode Island Department of State, "Vote from Home with a Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
  5. ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Apply for a Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
  6. ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Vote by Emergency Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
  7. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
  8. ↑ Rhode Island General Assembly, "H 5702," accessed July 20, 2017
  9. ↑ The Hill, "Rhode Island becomes ninth state to enact automatic voter registration," July 19, 2017
  10. ↑ U.S. News and World Report, "Governor OKs Rhode Island Automatic Voter Registration Bill," July 19, 2017
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