The right to vote is fundamental to democracy. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about voting rights in Rhode Island.
Upcoming voting deadlines:
Can I vote in Rhode Island?
To vote, you must be registered at least 30 days before the election. However, even if you are not registered, you can still vote for President and Vice-President at your local Board of Canvassers on election day.
You can vote in a RI election if you are:
17-year-olds can also vote in a primary election if they will be 18 by the time of the general election.
What if I’m a student?
You can register to vote at whatever address you consider your primary legal residence. This can be your school address or your home address.
What if I have a legal guardian?
You can vote unless a judge says in a written court order that your right to vote is denied or suspended.
What if I’ve been convicted of a crime?
Only people who are currently incarcerated for a felony are denied the right to vote. If you’re incarcerated for a misdemeanor, you can vote by absentee/mail ballot. If you have a past felony or misdemeanor record, you have the right to vote. If you are on parole or probation for any crime, even if you are on home confinement for a felony, you have the right to vote.
What if I’m homeless?
You don’t need a home to register, but you do have to identify a place of residence (which can be a street corner, a shelter, or another place where you usually stay). You can also use the address of the Board of Canvassers in the town where you usually stay.
What if I’ve moved or changed my name?
You should update your registration every time you move or change your name.
Can I vote in a primary if I'm not affiliated with a political party?
Yes. You can vote in whichever party primary you choose, and you will remain unaffiliated even after you have voted.
You can register to vote:
Online at https://vote.sos.ri.gov/
By mail by filling out a voter registration form and mailing it to your local Board of Canvassers.
In person by filling out a voter registration form at your local Board of Canvassers, located in your city or town hall.
When you apply for services at state agencies that provide public assistance (such as Medicaid, WIC, and food stamps) or services to people with disabilities, and at armed forces recruitment offices.
If eligible, you can be registered to vote when you apply for a driver’s license or state ID at the DMV.
You can often find mail-in voter registration forms at libraries and city and town clerk offices.
How do I know if I’m registered?
Check your registration status at https://vote.sos.ri.gov or call your local Board of Canvassers.
Can I see who is on the ballot before I actually go to vote?
Yes. If you visit the Secretary of State website at https://vote.sos.ri.gov, you can find a sample ballot specific to your address.
Can I vote before Election Day?
Yes, in two ways. You can vote by mail. Find deadlines for receipt of mail ballots at https://vote.sos.ri.gov or by calling your local Board of Canvassers. You can also vote early, in person, at your local Board of Canvassers.
How do I get a mail ballot?
To vote by mail, you need to apply for a mail ballot. You can apply directly for one online or download an application at https://vote.sos.ri.gov, or visit your local Board of Canvassers. If you miss a mail ballot application deadline and cannot vote in person, you are eligible for an emergency mail ballot. Visit https://vote.sos.ri.gov or call your local Board of Canvassers for more info. You do not need to provide a reason to get a mail ballot.
Do I need a witness to vote by mail ballot?
No. The General Assembly repealed that requirement.
What is the deadline for returning my mail ballot?
Your mail ballot must be received by the state Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on election day. If you don’t want to return your ballot by mail, or there is not enough time to do so, there are drop boxes in each community where you can place your ballot. If your ballot is placed in a drop box by 8 p.m. on election day, it will be counted. If you are unable to get to a community drop box on election day, you can submit your mail ballot at your polling place in a specially designated drop box there.
How do I know my mail ballot has been counted?
You can track the status of your mail ballot at vote.sos.ri.gov, which lets you know if it has been received and counted. If there is a problem with your ballot, the Board of Elections will try to reach you and offer you a chance to cure any problems.
How can I vote via emergency mail ballot?
Within twenty days of an election, you can apply for an emergency mail ballot and vote at your local Board of Canvassers or you can have it mailed to you or authorize someone to pick up the ballot on your behalf. After it is received, it will be treated like any other mail ballot.
What is in-person early voting?
Within twenty days of an election, you can vote at your local Board of Canvassers in the same manner you would on election day. You will be asked to complete an in-person electronic application, and you will be required to present valid ID. You will then be provided a ballot and permitted to complete it in person and place it directly into a voting machine right there.
How can I vote by mail if I have a print disability?
You can request to vote by accessible mail ballot. Visit https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Voter/AccessibleVoting or call the RI Secretary of State at (401) 222-2340 to learn more about this option.
If I don’t vote by mail, when do the polls open?
Polls are generally open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You have the right to vote if you’re in line when the polls close, even if the line is outside of the building.
Where do I vote?
You have to vote at your assigned polling place, which is listed on the voter registration card you receive in the mail when you register. Because polling locations can change between elections, you should check before going out to vote by visiting https://vote.sos.ri.gov or calling your local Board of Canvassers. If you go to the wrong polling place to vote, you will only be allowed to vote by provisional ballot and all your votes may not be counted.
What if I need language assistance?
If you vote in Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket or Woonsocket, you have the right to ask for voting assistance in Spanish. You’re also entitled to a translation of the ballot and other election materials. You can bring an interpreter with you to the polls or get assistance in your language from anyone you choose, including a poll worker, as long as the person is not your employer, an agent of your employer, or an agent of your labor union.
What if I have a disability and my polling place is not accessible?
You have the right to an accessible polling place and an accessible voting machine. If you find your polling place inaccessible on election day, call Disability Rights RI at (401) 831-3150. If you learn it’s inaccessible prior to Election Day, call your local Board of Canvassers right away and ask for an alternative method of voting. If you are visually impaired or have difficulty reading or marking a ballot, your polling place has a special voting terminal for you to use so that you can vote privately and independently. If you need a Braille or tactile ballot, you must ask for one in advance. On Election Day, you can bring one or more people to assist you. This can be anyone you choose as long as the person is not your employer, an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your labor union. The same accessibility rights apply to early voting.
Can I bring my children with me?
Yes. State law permits you to bring a child under the age of 18 into the voting booth with you.
Can I wear a political button when I go to vote?
Yes. You can display or wear political messages while waiting in line to vote. However, once you have voted, you must immediately leave the polling location.
Can I record activity at the polling place?
Electronic recording of the election process is allowed as long as it is done outside of the railed or enclosed voting area and does not hinder the election process or compromise a voter’s right to cast a secret ballot. You also have the right to take photos of your own ballot.
Do I have to provide ID if I vote by mail?
You do not need ID if you vote by mail ballot (in most cases). However, if you are a first-time registrant and did not provide a driver’s license or state ID or the last four digits of your SSN when you registered, you will be asked to provide a copy of a photo ID.
Do I have to show ID if I vote at the polls on Election Day?
RI law requires you to show photo identification in order to vote by regular ballot at the polls. However, if you do not have photo ID and want to vote at the polls, you cannot be turned away, and must instead be given a provisional ballot. If your signature on the ballot is later found to match that in the voting database, your vote will be counted. If you vote via provisional ballot, polling officials are required to give you information explaining how to find out if your vote was counted.
What are the accepted forms of photo ID?
Accepted forms of photo ID include, but are not limited to, the ones listed below. The ID must not have expired more than six (6) months prior to voting, but it does not need to have your current address.
• Rhode Island driver’s license or permit
• Rhode Island voter ID card
• State or federal ID card
• U.S. passport
• U.S. military ID card
• ID card issued by a recognized tribal government
• Student ID card from a U.S. educational institution
What if I’m not on the voter list?
Ask a poll worker to check the list and confirm that you’re at the right polling place. If you believe you’re at the right polling place but your name isn’t on the list, ask for a provisional ballot. You have the right to cast a provisional ballot as long as you’re willing to swear that you believe you are registered to vote.
What if I go to the wrong polling place?
Ask a poll worker to help you find the right one. You can also call your local Board of Canvassers. If nobody can determine where you’re registered or you don’t have time to go to the correct polling place, you can cast a provisional ballot, but all your votes may not be counted.
What if someone challenges my right to vote?
Ask for a provisional ballot. You have the right to cast a provisional ballot even if you’ve been challenged.
What if someone tries to intimidate or harass me?
Tell a poll worker right away. If the poll worker is the problem, tell a poll watcher or call your local Board of Canvassers. You can electronically record polling place problems, as long as it is done outside the enclosed voting area and does not hinder the election process.
What if I make a mistake on my ballot or the voting machine malfunctions?
Tell a poll worker before you cast your vote. You have the right to a replacement ballot if you catch the error before you cast your ballot. If you haven’t properly filled out the ballot and the voting machine rejects it, you have the right to a replacement ballot. If your voting machine malfunctions, you can request a different machine or a paper ballot.
What is a provisional ballot?
Unlike a regular ballot, a provisional ballot is not fed through the voting machine. Once the polls close, the Board of Canvassers will review the ballot to ensure you are eligible to vote. The ballot should be counted if the signature you provide (as part of the provisional ballot voting process) matches the one on your voter registration. If you vote via provisional ballot, polling officials are required to give you information explaining how to find out if your vote was counted.
