Voting & Elections Toolkits

Deadline

• Voter registration deadlines are determined by the date of the election.
• August 9, 2020 is the registration deadline for the 2020 statewide primary election
• October 4, 2020 is the deadline for in-person registration and postmark of mail-in registration for the general election.
• Guidelines: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/ovr/voters/how_to_register_to_vote
• Election Calendar: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/ovr/voters/voter_calendar

Online registration

To use the online voter registration system you must have a current and valid driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver photo identification card issued by the RI Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and a signature on file with DMV.

Online registration form in English and Spanish: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/ovr/?search_type=register

Mail-in or In-person registration

Printable forms: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/assets/pdfs/voter_registration_form.pdf 

Refer to the box below for information about ID requirements.

You may choose a political party affiliation when you register, but it is not required.                 

Updating registration      

To update registration after a move, name change, or change of political party affiliation, use the voter registration form.

Cancelling registration

The Registrar of Canvassers in each town maintains the voter rolls. To remove someone from a voter roll, contact the local Board of Canvassers.

Directory of Local Boards of Canvassers: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/ovr/info/local_boards/

ID Requirements for Voting

Voters will be asked to show a valid Photo ID. Options include:

• RI driver's license or permit;
• US passport;
• ID card issued by any federally recognized tribal government;
• ID card issued by an education institution in the US;
• US military ID card;
• ID issued by the US government or Sate of Rhode Island;
• Government issued medical card; or
• RI Voter ID.

Voters who do not bring ID to the polls can vote using a standard provisional ballot, which will be counted if the signature they provide at the poling place matches the signature on their voter registration card.

Mail ballots do not require voter ID.

More information: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/assets/pdfs/voter_id_information.pdf

Where to get an ID

Department of Motor Vehicles

• Locations: http://www.dmv.ri.gov/locations/

Obtaining a Driver’s License

• New license: http://www.dmv.ri.gov/licenses/new/index.php
• Transferring from another state: http://www.dmv.ri.gov/licenses/oosTransfer/index.php
• Obtaining a non-driver photo ID: http://www.dmv.ri.gov/licenses/stateID/index.php

Vote by Mail

• Rhode Island voters who are unable to make it to the polls on Election Day can vote by mail.
• Follow the steps in this link to vote by mail: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Voter/VotebyMail?ActiveFlag=4

Military voters and voters who reside outside the U.S.

• Register and request your absentee ballot and learn more about the process with the Federal Post Care Application (FPCA): https://www.fvap.gov/rhode-island
• ​Presidential Primary (April 28, 2020) Dates:
  • Registration: March 29, 2020
  • Ballot Request Received by: April 7, 2020
  • Ballot Returned by: May 1, 2020
• State Primary (September 8, 2020) Dates:
  • Registration due by: August 9, 2020
  • Ballot Request Received by: August 18, 2020
  • Ballot Returned by: September 11, 2020
• General Election (November 3, 2020) Dates:
  • Registration due by: October 4, 2020
  • Ballot Requested by: October 13, 2020
  • Ballot Returned by: November 10, 2020

For more information visit: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Voter/VotebyMail?ActiveFlag=4

Polling places and hours

• A list of the polling places hours for each city and town: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Elections/PollingPlaceHours
• Check with the Town Clerk regarding voting hours for referenda.

Rides to the polls

Many organizations offer free rides to polling places. Some of these include:

• Lyft (www.lyft.com) provides free or discounted rides in some underserved communities
• Political parties sometimes arrange rides for voters. Contact the local office:
  • Republican Party: http://www.ri.gop/
  • Democratic Party: https://ridemocrats.org/

Help for disabled voters

• Each poling place has at least one handicapped-accessible voting both designated for voters over the age of 65 or disabled.
• Voters who have a medical disability which would cause the voter severe discomfort by standing in line is allowed to move to the front of the line.
• Each polling place is equipped with a sheet magnifier to assist voters who are visually impaired.
• Voters may request assistance from a bipartisan pair of poll workers.
• Federal and state laws allow voters who are blind, disabled, or unable to read or write to bring a person of their choice into the voting booth. An affidavit must be completed. 
• Voters who are visually impaired may request a Braille or tactile mail ballot here: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Content/Pdfs/braille_tactile_mail_ballot_application.pdf
• The Rhode Island Disability Law Center - Protection and Advocacy Voter Assistance Hotline: 401-831-3150
• Rhode Island Disability Law Center - Voting Rights: https://www.drri.org/what-we-do/issues/voting-rights

Ballots

Referenda Information: Forthcoming

Sample ballots

• 2020 Primary Election: Forthcoming
• 2020 General Election: Forthcoming

Who are the candidates, and what else is on the ballot?

• Town-by-town sample ballots: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Home/PollingPlaces?ActiveFlag=2

Important Dates

• Presidential Preference Primary: April 28, 2020
• State-wide Primary (must be registered to vote by August 9): September 8, 2020
• General Election (must be registered to vote by October 4): November 3, 2020

Who conducts elections?

• The Rhode Island Board of Elections oversees campaign finance, trains poll workers, tests and prepares voting machines and e-poll books, oversees Election Day operations statewide, tallies initial results, and certifies election results.
• The Rhode Island Department of State trains local officials on the Central Voter Registration System (CVRS), maintains online voter registration, certifies state and federal candidates, prepares ballots, sends ballots to voters, prepares elections calendar, and provides voter IDs.
• The Boards of Canvassers maintain local voter records, certify nomination papers, process mail ballot applications, identify polling places, recruit poll workers, process emergency ballots, and oversees Election Day operations locally.

https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Elections/Administration

Voter Rights

English https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Voter/VoterRights

Spanish https://vote.sos.ri.gov/VoterSpanish/VoterRights

Where to go with complaints about candidates or how elections are conducted

• Local Board of Canvassers (full directory): https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Elections/LocalBoards 
• Board of Elections: 401-222-2345
• Rhode Island Department of State, Elections Division: 401-222-2340

Campaign finance

The Rhode Island Board of Elections (http://www.elections.ri.gov/finance/) provides access to candidates’ election committee and Political Action Committee campaign finance filings.

How to contact your elected officials:

Find your elected officials: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Home/ElectedOfficials?ActiveFlag=3