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VOTING IN RHODE ISLAND

Voter Eligibility - Who Can Vote?​

Under federal law, if you move within 30 days of a presidential election, you are allowed to vote for President and Vice President in your former state of residence, either in person or by absentee ballot.
  • Minimum Age To Vote: You must be at least 18 years of age to vote
  • Minimum Age To Register To Vote: You must be at least 16 to register.

May Convicted Felons Register to vote?

  • If you are a convicted felon and not in prison and you are a US citizen at least 18 years of age on election day, you may restore your right to vote by notifying your local board of canvassers in writing that you have completed your prison sentence or by submitting a new voter registration form.

To qualify to register you must:

  • Be a United States citizen;
  • Be at least 16 years of age. You must be at least 18 years of age to vote,and
  • Be a resident of the Rhode Island city or town where you wish to vote.
  • You must not be currently deemed non-compos mentis by a court of law
  • You must not be currently incarcerated in a correctional facility under felony conviction

Ways To Register To Vote​

By Mail​

Your mailed-in voter registration must be postmarked 30 days before Election Day.Mail the completed form to your local board of canvassers.

In Person​

In person registration deadline is 30 days before Election Day. Voters will automatically be registered to vote when they interact with the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Bring the completed form to your local board of canvassers.

Online​

You can register to vote in Rhode Island ONLINE. Online registration deadline is 30 days before Election Day

How Do I Know I'm Registered?​

  • Consider yourself registered when- and only when- you receive an acknowledgment from your county clerk.
  • Never assume you are registered to vote until you have received this acknowledgment.
  • Call your county clerk and inquire about the status of your application.
  • https://vote.sos.ri.gov

Voter Identification​

  • Voter Identification Law Enacted? YES

If you do not have one of the proofs of identity above, you must bring one of the documents below to obtain a free voter ID card. It must include your name and be dated since November 4, 2014, unless the document is intended to be of a permanent nature such as a pardon or discharge​

  • Utility bill
  • Bank statement
  • Government paycheck
  • Document issued by a government agency
  • Official elections document issued by a government agency, dated for the election in which the registered voter is providing it as proof of identity
  • Voter notification issued by a governmental agency
  • Public housing ID card issued by a governmental agency
  • Lease or rental statement or agreement issued by a governmental agency
  • Student ID card issued by a governmental institution/agency or non-governmental institution/agency
  • Tuition statement or bill issued by a governmental agency
  • Insurance plan card or drug discount card issued by a governmental agency
  • Discharge certificates, pardons, or other official documents issued to the registered voter by a governmental agency in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence or other matter
  • Public transit authority senior citizen and disabled discount ID card issued by a governmental agency
  • ID documents issued by governmental disability agencies
  • ID documents issued by homeless shelters and other temporary or transitional facilities
  • Drug prescription issued by a government doctor or other governmental health care provider
  • Property tax statement issued by a governmental agency
  • Vehicle registration issued by a governmental agency
  • Vehicle certificate of ownership issued by a governmental agency

If you don’t have an acceptable form of photo identification, the Department of State will issue you one. You must provide one of these proofs of identity to receive a free voter ID card​

  • Employee ID card
  • ID card provided by a commercial establishment
  • Credit or debit card
  • Military ID card
  • Student ID card
  • Health club ID card
  • Insurance plan ID card
  • Public housing ID card

Rhode Island has a Non-strict voter identification law​

  • At least some voters without acceptable identification have an option to cast a ballot that will be counted without further action on the part of the voter.

The following documents are acceptable forms of identification,​

  • RI driver's license/permit
  • US passport
  • ID card issued by any federally recognized tribal government
  • ID card issued by an educational institution in the United States
  • US military identification card
  • ID card issued by the US government or State of Rhode Island
  • Government issued medical card
  • RI Voter ID card

Voter Information Lookup​