Rhode Island: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links

Rhode Island voter registration

• Voter registration deadlines

  • In Person: 30 days before Election Day.
  • By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day. If the postmark is missing or unclear and the registration form is received no later than 5 days after the deadline, the individual shall be presumed to have been registered by the deadline.
  • Online: 30 days before Election Day

• Election day registration

  You may register in person on Election Day at your local Board of Canvassers but only for Presidential elections.

• Voter registration rules

  To register in Rhode Island you must:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Rhode Island for 30 days preceding the next election
  • 16- and 17-year-olds may preregister to vote, but cannot vote until they are 18
  • not be currently incarcerated in a correctional facility due to a felony conviction
  • not have been lawfully judged to be mentally incompetent

• How to register to vote in Rhode Island

  1. Use our Register to Vote Tool to fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
  2. Sign and date your form. This is very important!
  3. Mail or hand-deliver your completed form to the address we provide.
  4. Make sure you register before the voter registration deadline.

• Registering with felony status

  If you have been convicted of a felony and have questions about whether you can register to vote, visit Restore Your Vote to determine your eligibility.