Rhode Island Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Mail-In Deadlines

General Election: November 4, 2008

Voter Registration

To register to vote 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
• be 18 years old by election day
• not be serving a sentence for which you are currently imprisoned
• not have been lawfully judged to be mentally incompetent

How to register to vote:

• Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget.  Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.  
• You can also download and complete Rhode Island's voter registration form. Mail the completed form to your local Board of Elections.

ID requirements for first-timve voters:

You must provide either a valid Rhode Island driver's license number or valid Rhode Island ID number issued on your voter registration form. If you do not have a valid Rhode Island driver's license or RI ID number, you must provide the last 4 digits of your social security number.  If you are registering for the first time in Rhode Island and you do not provide one of these numbers you'll have to include a copy of your ID.  If you forget, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote.  Acceptable forms of identification include a copy of a current and valid photo ID that shows your name OR a copy of a current utility bill, current bank statement, current government check, current paycheck, or Another current government document that shows your name and Rhode Island address.

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Absentee Voting

You may vote by absentee ballot if:

• You will be absent from the state on election day during the entire time the polls are open;
• You will be absent from the city or town of your voting residence during the entire time the polls are open because you are a student or spouse of a student at an institution of higher learning within the state;
• You are incapacitated due to illness or mental or physical disability, blindness or serious impairment of mobility and it would be an undue hardship for you to vote at the polls;
• You are forbidden by the tenets of your religious faith from voting on election day;
• You are confined to a hospital, rest home, convalescent home, nursing home or similar institution, public or private;
• You are being detained while awaiting trial or imprisoned for any cause other than final conviction of a felony;
• You will be temporarily absent from the state because of employment or service connected with military operations or are a spouse or dependent of such a person;
• You are employed by the State Board of Elections or the local Board of Canvassers or a poll worker assigned to work on Election Day outside of your voting district;

How to apply for an absentee ballot:

Rhode Island issues a different absentee ballot application for each election. For the November 4, 2008 election, download and complete the Rhode Island absentee ballot application for the Presidential Election.  (For other elections, you can request an absentee ballot application by calling your  local Board of Elections.)

Unless you are on active military service, your absentee ballot application must be notarized or witnessed by two people.  Mail or hand deliver your application to your local Board of Elections. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is 4pm on the 21st day before the election.

ID requirements for absentee voters:

You do not need to provide ID if you've already voted in Rhode Island at least once.  If you are a first-time Rhode Island voter, and you did not put your driver's license number or state ID card number on your voter registration form, then you must provide a copy of one of the following with your absentee ballot application: a current and valid photo ID that shows your name OR or a current utility bill, Current bank statement, Current government check, Current paycheck, or another current government document that shows your name and Rhode Island address.

Absentee ballot directions:

The Board of Elections will mail you an absentee ballot and a return envelope.  Fill it in, sign where indicated, and mail your completed ballot to the state Board of Elections.  (The address is on the ballot.)  Your absentee ballot must be received by 9pm on Election Day.

Permanent absentee voter status:

Disabled or incapacitated votesr may apply for permanent absentee voter status using the Rhode Island Application for Automatic Mail-in Ballot.  Once you are approved, Rhode Island will automatically send you an absentee ballot for each election during the next five years.

Emergency absentee ballots:

If circumstances arise within 20 days of the primary or election which prevent you from going to the polls to vote on election day, you may be eligible to vote an emergency mail ballot.  The deadline to apply for an emergency ballot is 4:00 pm on the day before the election.  You can request an emergency absentee ballot from your local Board of Canvassers. 

If you apply for an emergency absentee ballot due to illness, disability or blindness, you must include a certificate from a physician or Christian Science practitioner. This certificate must contain the address of the physician or Christian Science practitioner, the date that the applicant was last examined or treated and attest to the fact that the illness, disability, blindness or serious impairment of mobility did not manifest itself until twenty (20) days or less prior to the primary or election. 

All emergency ballot envelopes must be notarized or witnessed by 2 persons who must sign their names and addresses. (This requirement does not apply to military voters or voters who are incapacitated due to illness, disability, or blindness)

State Contact Information