Voting in Rhode Island

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Voters must provide an excuse to vote absentee/by-mail in Rhode Island, but any excuse may be given.

Voters do not need an excuse to vote early/in-person absentee.

Rhode Island has semi-open primaries. If you are affiliated with a specific political party, you may only vote in that party’s primary. Unaffiliated (also known as independent) voters can vote in any party primary but, by casting a vote in a party primary, you automatically become affiliated with that party. To return to an unaffiliated status, you may request a “disaffiliation form” from poll workers and fill it out before leaving the polling place. You will officially return to your unaffiliated status in 90 days. 17-year-olds cannot vote in the primary election even if they will be 18 by the corresponding general election.

Photo ID is required to vote in Rhode Island. Valid forms of ID include:
- RI Driver's License or Permit
- RI Voter ID Card
- U.S. Passport
- ID issued by a U.S. educational institution
- U.S. military ID
- ID card issued by the United States or the State of Rhode Island
- Government issued medical card
- Tribal ID

If you do not have an approved form of ID, the Rhode Island Secretary of State's office will issue you a free voter photo ID card. See the Secretary of State's website for additional information on the program and the documents required to obtain a voter photo ID card, or call (401) 222-2340.

If you go to your polling place without an approved form of ID, you can vote a provisional ballot. You will have until the close of business the day after the election to provide information to the Board of Canvassers to help qualify the ballot.