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Can I vote 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.
- Voter registrationSun, Oct 4Passed
- Mail request must be receivedTue, Oct 13Passed
Missed the request deadline?
- Any voter who missed the regular deadline (no excuse needed). Deadline: Mon, Nov 2, 4 p.m.. Emergency mail ballot application at your local board of canvassers or through the online portal, from Oct. 14; vote it at the board, have it mailed, or have it handed to someone with your written authorization; it must reach the state Board of Elections by 8 p.m. Nov. 3. source
- NextFill it in, sign the envelope, and get it in the mail byTue, Oct 271 day
USPS says allow 7 days. Your ballot must be received by Tue, Nov 3. After this date, use a drop box or return it in person.
- Returning it:
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.
Dropping it off? Drop boxes are widely available here, and using one skips the mail entirely. Rhode Island drop box locations.
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. source
- Election DayTue, Nov 38 days
If your ballot gets flaggedDeadline: Tue, Nov 10 · 15 days
If your ballot was flagged
- Read the letter, email or text from your county. It says what's wrong.
- Return the Deficient Mail Ballot Attestation Form so the state Board of Elections receives it by 4 p.m. on Nov. 10, seven days after the election. Deadline: Tue, Nov 10 · 15 days
- Call your county election office. You can say:
Hi, I voted by mail and my ballot was flagged. What do I need to do to fix it, and by when? Can I do it today?
Trouble voting? Free, nonpartisan hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE · 888-VE-Y-VOTA · 888-API-VOTE · 844-YALLA-US
Good to know in Rhode Island 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.
Where are you with your ballot?
Where are you with your ballot?
Will your ballot count in Rhode Island?
Will your ballot count in Rhode Island?
- Is this your first time voting by mail?
- Have you moved since you last voted?
- Has your signature changed much since you registered?
Why ballots get rejected in Rhode Island, and how to avoid it
- 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.
Voting in person insteadpolling place, early voting, ID
Open now through Mon, Nov 2. Locations and hours
Bring a photo ID. If you don't have one there's a fallback, usually signing an affidavit or having your signature checked, and your ballot still counts that day.
Accepted: Current/valid photo ID: RI driver's license/state ID, U.S. passport, government-issued photo ID, student ID, military ID, RI Voter ID card (free), etc. (RIGL 17-19-24.2) 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.
More about your statepermanent list, counting, alerts
Rhode Island has a Permanent Mail Ballot Application for voters indefinitely confined, disabled, or in a nursing home. Sign up once and you won't have to request again. Sends you an APPLICATION for every election automatically, not a ballot.
Rhode Island cannot start counting mail ballots until Election Day itself, so results take longer than you might expect. Results are certified Wed, Nov 25.
- Military or overseas. You're covered by federal law (UOCAVA), which usually gives you longer deadlines and electronic delivery. Use the Federal Post Card Application to register and request a ballot in one step. If your ballot doesn't arrive, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is your backup. FVAP.gov
- College student. You can register at your school address or your family's, not both. If you're registered back home and away at school, request a mail ballot from home early; campus mail is slow. Some states require a specific reason for students to vote absentee, so check your state's rule above. Student voter guide
- Disability or need help marking a ballot. Every state must offer an accessible way to vote. Most have an accessible mail-ballot option you can mark on a screen reader or your own device, and all allow a person of your choice (not your employer or union rep) to assist. Ask your county election office for the accessible absentee ballot. If illness, a hospital stay or a disability keeps you from the polls AFTER the request deadline, most states still have a way to get you a ballot: see "Missed the request deadline?" under your state's dates, and "Who can return it for you" for whether a family member or helper may carry it back. EAC: voters with disabilities
- Moved recently. Your registration is tied to your address. If you moved within your state, update it before the registration deadline; if you've moved across state lines, register in the new state. Moved after the deadline? Many states let you vote at your old precinct one last time or update in person; call your county. vote.gov
- Past felony conviction. Rules vary widely: some states restore rights automatically on release, others after probation or parole, a few require a separate process. Don't assume you can't vote. Check your state before the registration deadline. NCSL: restoration of voting rights
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Verified against the official page 2026-09-10. Rule checked 2026-09-09. Deadlines checked 2026-09-09. Request deadlines are "received by," not postmarked. The official site wins if anything differs. Spot something wrong? We check every report against the state's own page and fix errors as soon as they're reported. Email fix@ballotbymail.org or use the report form.