While Rhode Island does require an excuse to vote absentee/by mail, the state is offering early voting throughout the month of October due to COVID-19. Voters should make a plan to get the details on early voting from their local Board of Canvassers.
If you are allowed to vote absentee/VBM, to avoid possible postal delays impacting your vote, we recommend mailing your completed ballot back by Tuesday, October 13th. Plan to drop it off by hand after that.
If you are concerned about your absentee ballot returning on time through the mail, visit our other page to learn how to drop your ballot off in person.
Registering In Person: October 4, 2020
Registering By Mail: Postmarked October 3, 2020
Registering Online: October 4, 2020
The state is mailing absentee-ballot applications to all active voters
Request In Person: Application received by 4pm October 13, 2020
Request By Mail: Application received by 4 pm October 13, 2020
Request Online: N/A (Form must be mailed or delivered to your local canvassing board by 4pm on Oct. 13th)
Ballots must be received by the State Board of Elections in Cranston, or returned to any secure drop box, by 8pm on Election Day.
We strongly recommend mailing your ballot much earlier (by October 13th) and, if that's not possible, dropping it off in person. Learn how below or on our other page.
The state is mailing absentee-ballot applications to all active voters
Yes.
1. A voter within the State of Rhode Island who is incapacitated to the extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, or mental or physical disability, blindness, or serious impairment of mobility.
2. An elector who is confined to a hospital, convalescent home, nursing home, rest home, or similar institution, public or private, within the State of Rhode Island. Nursing Home Mail Ballots
3. An elector who will be temporarily absent from the state because of employment or service intimately connected with military operations or who is a spouse or legal dependent residing with that person, or a United States citizen that will be outside of the United States. (Please Note: any voter qualified to vote a category 3 mail ballot will also be allowed to cast a mail ballot pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act)
4. An elector who may not be able to vote at his or her polling place in his or her city or town on the day of the election.
Typically, two witnesses or a notary public must sign the absentee ballot envelope for most absentee voters. Military and overseas voters never need a signature or notary.
This requirement is waived for 2020 elections, including November, for all absentee/VBM ballots.
To the State Board of Elections in Cranston (address: 2000 Plainfield Pike Cranston, RI 02921) or at a secure drop box by 8pm on Election Day.
Unclear, so plan to return it yourself, just to be safe and ensure it's counted.
Boards of canvassers must offer early voting Oct. 14-16, Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-30 and Nov. 2.
Check with local election officials for locations and the exact schedule in your area.
Locations will depend on the decision of your local Board of Canvassers
Photo ID requested
Poll workers will ask you to show a current and valid photo ID when you vote at your polling place.
If ID is not presented, the voter votes on a provisional ballot, and election officials match the signature against signatures on record.
Rhode Island driver’s license
Rhode Island voter ID card
United States passport
Student ID card (from a U. S. educational institution)
United States military ID card
ID card issued by the United States or the State of Rhode Island
Government issued medical card
Tribal ID
The state will provide free photo ID to voters who don’t have one. Registered voters who don’t have an acceptable photo ID can get a free voter ID at the Election Division office during normal business hours or select other locations on specific days. For more information, consult http://sos.ri.gov/divisions/elections/Voters/voter-id or contact the Election Division at 401–222–2340, TTY 711 or elections@sos.ri.gov.
Voters who do not bring an acceptable ID to their polling place can vote using a standard provisional ballot. The ballot will be counted if the signature given at their polling place matches the signature on the voter registration.
You may register in person on November 3, 2020 at your local Board of Canvassers, but only for Presidential elections.
7am - 8pm
If you are in line when polls close, you are legally entitled to vote. Don't leave!
Poll workers will ask you to show a current and valid photo ID when you vote at your polling place.
If ID is not presented, the voter votes on a provisional ballot, and election officials match the signature against signatures on record.
Rhode Island driver’s license
Rhode Island voter ID card
United States passport
Student ID card (from a U. S. educational institution)
United States military ID card
ID card issued by the United States or the State of Rhode Island
Government issued medical card
Tribal ID
The state will provide free photo ID to voters who don’t have one. Registered voters who don’t have an acceptable photo ID can get a free voter ID at the Election Division office during normal business hours or select other locations on specific days. For more information, consult http://sos.ri.gov/divisions/elections/Voters/voter-id or contact the Election Division at 401–222–2340, TTY 711 or elections@sos.ri.gov.
Voters who do not bring an acceptable ID to their polling place can vote using a standard provisional ballot. The ballot will be counted if the signature given at their polling place matches the signature on the voter registration.