ballotbymail.org · nonpartisan
Voting by mail in Rhode Island
Yes. Anyone can request a mail ballot. Any registered voter can request a mail (absentee) ballot, no reason needed. There's a deadline, so request early. Mail ballots go to the STATE Board of Elections in Cranston, not your local board, and must arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Don't cross out a mistake; call 401-222-2340 for a replacement. Permanent mail ballot application available.
Key dates
| Register to vote by | Sun, Oct 4 |
| Mail ballot request received by | Tue, Oct 13 |
| Early in-person voting | Wed, Oct 14 – Mon, Nov 2 |
| Mail your ballot by | Tue, Oct 27 (USPS: allow 7 days) |
| Election Day | Tue, Nov 3 |
| ID at the polls | Photo ID requested. Without one: Provisional ballot with a voter certificate/affirmation; the local board counts it if the signature matches the registration signature - no follow-up trip. |
| Return rule | Must reach the STATE Board of Elections (2000 Plainfield Pike, Cranston) or an authorized drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Postage is prepaid. Missed the Oct. 13 application deadline? Emergency mail ballots run Oct. 14 to 4 p.m. Nov. 2 at your local board of canvassers. |
| Fix a flagged ballot by | Tue, Nov 10 |
| Missed the request deadline? | Any voter who missed the regular deadline (no excuse needed): by Mon, Nov 2, 4 p.m.. |
| Who can return it for you | Anyone you choose may return it. The Secretary of State says you can give your sealed mail ballot to someone you trust to return it for you, and warns never to rely on a stranger. No limit or form is stated. It must arrive by 8 p.m. Election Day. The Board of Elections' drop-box rule speaks of ballots deposited by the voter, so it is unclear whether a helper may use a drop box; handing it in at the Board is the safe choice. |
Steps
- Request your ballot now. Don't wait for the deadline.
- Confirm your registration and mailing address while you're at it.
- When it arrives, fill it out in blue or black ink and sign the envelope.
- Return it by drop box or in person if you can. Mail it at least a week early if not.
- Track it on your state's tracker until it shows received.
Don't get rejected
- Sign the envelope the way you signed your voter registration or driver's license. Your state compares them.
- Use the secrecy sleeve if one is included, then the return envelope. Don't tape anything.
- Keep the phone and email on your registration current. If there's a problem, that's how they reach you to fix it.
https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Voter/VoteByMail
https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Home/UpdateVoterRecord?ActiveFlag=3
ballotbymail.org/state/ri
Trouble voting? 866-OUR-VOTE (English) · 888-VE-Y-VOTA (Español) · 888-API-VOTE (Asian languages) · 844-YALLA-US (العربية)
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Rules checked 2026-09-09; deadlines checked 2026-09-09. Sources: NCSL, Vote.org, CEIR, state election offices. The official site wins if anything differs. Free to copy and post.