Register to Vote
Registering to vote gives you the opportunity to participate in local, state, and federal elections.
In Rhode Island, you must be registered to vote 30 days before an election to participate.
To register (or pre-register) to vote, you must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- A resident of the Rhode Island city or town where you wish to vote
- At least 16 years of age (but you must be at least 18 years of age to vote.)
You may not register to vote if:
- There is a written court order stating that you cannot vote. (If you have a legal guardian, you can vote unless the guardianship order specifically suspends your right to vote.)
- You are incarcerated in a correctional facility upon a felony conviction. Once out of prison, your voting rights will automatically be restored if you were registered to vote when you entered the correctional facility. If you were not registered, you can exercise your right to vote by either notifying your local board of canvassers in writing or by submitting a new voter registration form.
How to register to vote:
When you visit the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), you can easily register to vote while completing DMV forms. Unless you opt-out, you are automatically registered to vote while completing DMV forms, if eligible.
You can also register to vote using the options below:
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Register Online
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Register by Mail
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Register in Person
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Same-day Registration
Rhode Island allows same-day voter registration for presidential elections only. If you miss the voter registration deadline, you can register to vote on Election Day but you will only be able to vote for President and Vice President. You will not be able to vote in any state, local, or other federal races. You can only register and vote on Election Day at the location designated by your local board of canvassers.
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Address Confidentiality Program
If you are a victim of domestic violence or abuse, fear for the safety of yourself or those in your care, and have moved or are moving to a new address for your safety, you may be eligible to participate in the Rhode Island Department of State’s Address Confidentiality Program. This program also enables you to register to vote without making your residence address part of a public record. Click here for more information.
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Rhode Island Restoration of Voting Rights Act
Under the Rhode Island Restoration of Voting Rights Act of 2006 (RIRVRA), the Secretary of State must ensure that persons who were not eligible to vote due to incarceration have their eligibility restored upon release from prison.
If you are incarcerated in a correctional facility upon a felony conviction and were registered to vote in Rhode Island and plan to stay in the state, you will have your voter registration restored when you are released from the correctional facility. Once out of the correctional facility, your right to vote is automatically restored. If you have a new address, you’ll need to complete a new voter registration form.
If you are sentenced to home confinement, you are still eligible to vote.
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Register with a Federally Funded Social Service Agency
Under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), Rhode Island residents can register to vote at all federally funded social service agencies that provide public assistance programs. To learn more, click here.
Acknowledgement Notice
When you register to vote, your local board of canvassers will send you an acknowledgement notice at the address associated with your new voter registration. You will also be notified by mail if your registration does not meet the requirements for any reason.
Be sure to contact your local board of canvassers if you do not receive the acknowledgement notice within three weeks of registering to vote. If the Post Office cannot deliver the notice to the address on your voter registration form, your status as a voter will be changed to “inactive” and you may have to provide additional information when voting.
