This information is for the November 3rd general election. For information on the September 8, 2020 state primary, check with the Rhode Island election office. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Rhode Island offers absentee ballots by mail to voters who will be unable to vote in person. All other voters are expected to vote in person. Rhode Island offers early voting.
Vote in person
Vote on Election Day
Voters registered in Rhode Island can look up where to vote on Rhode Island’s site.
Vote early
Rhode Island voters can also vote before Election Day. The early voting period runs from Wednesday, October 14, 2020 to Monday, November 2, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
What to bring
- You will be asked to show photo ID to vote in Rhode Island. Acceptable forms ID include: Rhode Island driver’s license; Rhode Island voter ID card; US passport; ID issued by a school or college in the US; US military ID; ID issued by the US government or State of Rhode Island; tribal ID; or a government-issued medical card.
- Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot. The voter has until the close of business the day after the election to provide information to the Board of Canvassers to help qualify their ballot.
Who can vote
You have to register to vote before Election Day in Rhode Island. You can find the deadline to register to vote in the “Dates and deadlines” section.
To register in Rhode Island you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Rhode Island
- be at least 16 years of age (you must be 18 years of age to vote on Election Day)
- not be currently incarcerated in a correctional facility due to a felony conviction
- not have been lawfully judged to be mentally incompetent
- *find more information on voting rights restoration here
Vote by mail
- Review the absentee ballot application and confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements for voting absentee.
- Fill out the application completely.
- Submit the request to your local election office. You should request your ballot as far in advance of the election as possible. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Tuesday, October 13, 2020.
- When your ballot arrives, read it carefully and follow the instructions to complete it and return it.