Important Dates and Election Information
- Deadline to Register to Vote: Sunday, Oct. 6
- Last Day to Request a Mail Ballot: Tuesday, Oct. 15, by 4 p.m.
- Deadline to Return a Mail Ballot: Tuesday, Nov. 5, by 8 p.m.
- Early Voting and Emergency Mail Ballot Period: Wednesday, Oct. 16, through Monday, Nov. 4
- Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5
Quick Overview of Voting
Voter Registration
Check your registration status using Rhode Island’s voter information portal.
Mail Voting
All registered voters can vote by mail without providing a reason.
Early Voting
You can vote early and in person at a location designated by your city or town.
Voting at the Polls
A photo ID is required to vote in person. If you don’t have one, you’ll receive a provisional ballot.
Recent Voting Changes in Rhode Island
- Registered voters can now request a mail ballot through the state’s online portal and vote by mail without needing to provide a reason.
- Signatures from two witnesses or a notary are no longer required for mail ballots.
- Long-term nursing home residents can be placed on a permanent mail ballot list and automatically receive a mail ballot application for each election.
How to Register to Vote
You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person by Sunday, Oct. 6. If you mail your registration, it must be postmarked by that date, and received by Friday, Oct. 11.
Online
Visit Rhode Island’s voter information portal to register, update your information, or check your registration status. You’ll need your Rhode Island driver’s license or state ID number and your date of birth.
By Mail
Download and print a registration form, fill it out, and mail it to your local board of canvassers. You can also call your board of canvassers to request a form or pick one up at certain state agencies.
In Person
Complete a registration form and bring it to your local board of canvassers, the secretary of state’s office, or the state board of elections. You’ll automatically be registered to vote when you visit the Division of Motor Vehicles unless you opt out.
Registering to Vote on Election Day
You can register to vote on Election Day, but you’ll only be allowed to vote for president and vice president. Contact your local board of canvassers for details about same-day registration locations.
Check Your Voter Registration Status
You can verify your voter registration status using Rhode Island’s voter information portal.
How to Request a Mail Ballot
A mail ballot application must be received by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Any registered voter can request a mail ballot.
Online
Visit Rhode Island’s mail ballot application portal to request a ballot. You’ll need your Rhode Island driver’s license or state ID number and your date of birth.
By Mail
Download a mail ballot application from the secretary of state’s website or call your local board of canvassers to have an application mailed to you.
In Person
Submit your completed application to your local board of canvassers.
If an emergency prevents you from voting on Election Day, you can apply for an emergency mail ballot from your local board of canvassers from Wednesday, Oct. 16, through Monday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m.
Returning a Mail Ballot
You must sign the mail ballot certificate envelope.
By Mail
Place your signed certificate envelope inside the pre-addressed, postage-paid return envelope, seal it, and mail it to the state board of elections. Allow at least seven days for mailing to ensure your ballot arrives by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
In Person
Hand-deliver your sealed ballot envelope to the state board of elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Dropbox
Drop your sealed envelope into any ballot drop box location by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can find drop box locations through the state’s drop box locator tool.
You can track your mail ballot using Rhode Island’s voter information portal.
Voting in Person Before Election Day
Early in-person voting is available from Wednesday, Oct. 16, through Monday, Nov. 4, at your local board of canvassers or a designated location. Check the secretary of state’s website for early voting locations and hours.
You’ll need to show a valid photo ID, such as a Rhode Island driver’s license, U.S. passport, or state voter ID card. If you don’t bring a photo ID, you will receive a provisional ballot.
Voting at the Polls on Election Day
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in New Shoreham). As long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you’ll be allowed to vote.
Use Rhode Island’s voter information portal to find your polling location. Sample ballots will also be available on the portal.
Voter ID Requirements on Election Day
You’ll need to show a valid photo ID to vote, such as a Rhode Island driver’s license, U.S. passport, or state voter ID card. If you don’t bring one, you’ll receive a provisional ballot.
Voting with a Disability
You can bring someone to help you vote at the polls, but that person cannot be your employer or a union representative.
Each polling location has accessible voting machines that can read and mark your ballot. Ask an elections official if you need assistance with the ExpressVote machine.
You can also vote by mail using an accessible mail ballot, which you can mark electronically through an email link. To request an accessible mail ballot, check the accessibility box on the mail ballot application.
Braille, large print, and tactile mail ballots are available by request. Submit a form to request these accessible ballots, along with your mail ballot application, to your local board of canvassers.
Voting from a Nursing Home or Long-Term Care Facility
Residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities can ask to be placed on a permanent mail ballot list to automatically receive a mail ballot application for each election. However, they must still apply for a mail ballot each time.
Voters who select Mail Ballot Category 2 will have their mail ballot delivered by two bipartisan election officials from the State Board of Elections.
