Voting REGISTRATION in Rhode Island

You must be registered to vote at least 30 days before an election in Rhode Island. You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person.

If you miss the registration deadline for a presidential election only, you can register on Election Day and vote for President and Vice President. Same-day voter registration will not allow you to vote in any state, local, or other federal races. Registering to vote on Election Day can only be done at the location your city/town’s board of canvassers designates.

Follow this link to learn more about registering to vote in RI.

Voting Methods in Rhode Island

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voting on election day

On Election Day, you can cast a ballot in person at your polling location. You will need to present a photo ID to vote at the polls.

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voting EARLY IN-PERSON

During the 20 days leading up to Election Day, you can vote early in person at the local board of canvassers in your city or town hall. You will need to present a photo ID in order to cast a ballot at the polls.

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Vote With A Mail Ballot

You can apply for a mail ballot online, by mail with a form from the Rhode Island Department of State website, or by contacting your local board of canvassers. Be sure to check application deadlines. You will not present a photo ID to vote by mail.

After you receive and mark your ballot, you can mail it to the Board of Elections at least 7 days before the election or hand-deliver it to a drop-off location before 8 p.m. on election day

NAVIGATING BARRIERS AT THE POLLS

Voter ID

In Rhode Island, voting in person, whether early or on election day, requires presenting your valid photo ID. Note that Rhode Island voter records do not include a gender marker, so you do not need to worry about a poll worker seeing a gender marker that conflicts with your photo ID. Multiple forms of photo ID are accepted at the polls. If you do not have a photo ID That reflects your current appearance or desired gender marker, you can obtain a FREE voter ID from the Rhode Island Department of State. Your Rhode Island voter ID will show your current legal name, but it will have an updated photo that better reflects your current appearance and will not show a gender marker. See the “Voting While Trans” page of this website for more information on voter IDs.

Provisional Voting

If you appear at the polls to vote in person on Election Day and your eligibility to vote is challenged, ask to cast a provisional ballot. Provisional voting is a process to ensure that all registered voters are allowed to participate in an election. Your local board of canvassers will review your provisional ballot to determine whether it will be counted. Follow this link to learn more about provisional voting.

Who Can You Contact for Help?

Learn more about your voting rights in Rhode Island by following this link to the Rhode Island Department of State. If you encounter barriers at the polls or experience any attempt to interfere with your right to vote: