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.
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
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Can I View my Sample Ballot?
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot?
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Am I Registered?
State Voter Registration FAQ
Overseas / Military Voter Information
Where is my Ballot Drop Box?
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
For Ballot Dropbox Locations: Contact Local Election Office
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
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 |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |