How do I register to vote or check my registration?

Step by Step

How to do it

Confirm eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, Rhode Island resident, at least 16 years old to register (will vote starting at 18), NOT currently incarcerated in a correctional facility for a felony conviction, and not declared mentally incompetent to vote by court order
Choose your registration method:
ONLINE: vote.sos.ri.gov (Rhode Island Secretary of State voter registration portal) - requires RI driver's license or state ID; registration must be received 30 days before election
BY MAIL: Download RI voter registration form from elections.ri.gov or sos.ri.gov; complete, sign; must be postmarked/received by 30 days before election
IN PERSON: Your local Board of Canvassers (city/town hall); Rhode Island DMV; many state agencies; in-person deadline: 30 days before election (received)
AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION: Rhode Island has automatic voter registration through the DMV
ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION (LIMITED): Same-day registration ONLY available during PRESIDENTIAL elections; can only be used to vote for President and Vice President; must go to a designated location (not regular polling place) on Election Day
Submit registration by 30 days before Election Day
Receive voter registration card

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

RI driver's license or state ID number (for online); OR last 4 digits of SSN; OR signature
Current RI address

Fee

Free REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 30 days before Election Day (received - mail, in-person, online) SAME-DAY REGISTRATION: LIMITED - only during presidential elections; only for president/VP race; at designated canvassing location only CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION: vote.sos.ri.gov or elections.ri.gov EARLY VOTING: Rhode Island offers in-person early voting beginning 20 days before Election Day and ending the day before election; no excuse required; vote at your city or town hall (local Board of Canvassers office) during regular business hours; photo ID required for early voting NO-EXCUSE MAIL BALLOT: Any registered Rhode Island voter may request a mail ballot without excuse; request by 21 days before election; returned ballot must be RECEIVED by Board of Elections by 8 PM on Election Day; drop boxes available ONLINE OPTION: Yes - vote.sos.ri.gov (registration and status check); elections.ri.gov WHERE TO GO: Local Board of Canvassers (city/town hall); RI DMV; state agencies; online at vote.sos.ri.gov

Online Option

Yes - vote.sos.ri.gov (registration and status check); elections.ri.gov

Where to Go

Local Board of Canvassers (city/town hall); RI DMV; state agencies; online at vote.sos.ri.gov

Rhode Island Notes

Important state-specific details

SAME-DAY REGISTRATION LIMITED TO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ONLY - and only for president/VP votes; for all other races, must have registered 30 days in advance.
PRE-REGISTRATION at age 16: register now, vote starting at 18.
EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING: 20 days before election through day before; at city/town hall; no excuse; photo ID required.
NO-EXCUSE MAIL BALLOT: any registered voter; 21 days before election request deadline; received by 8 PM Election Day.
FELONY VOTING RIGHTS: restored IMMEDIATELY upon discharge from correctional facility; parole and probation do NOT restrict voting rights; pretrial detainees may vote; misdemeanor convictions do not affect voting rights; rights automatically restored upon release - no application needed.
Can pre-register at 16; receive ballot on or after 18th birthday.
PHOTO ID REQUIRED for in-person voting (including early voting): RI driver's license, RI voter ID card, U.S. passport, U.S. educational institution ID, U.S. military ID, government-issued ID, medical card, tribal ID; free RI voter ID card available from Board of Canvassers.
Polls open 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM (9:00 AM on New Shoreham/Block Island).

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Rhode Island Board of Elections - elections.ri.gov | (401) 222-2345; RI Secretary of State (voter registration) - vote.sos.ri.gov; Local Board of Canvassers (varies by city/town)