How do I vote in Rhode Island? Your guide to polling sites, mail-in deadlines, more

With Election Day coming up on Nov. 5, here's your guide for all things related to casting your vote in Rhode Island. To see guides for other states, click here.

Do I need to register to vote?

Yes, you need to register to vote in Rhode Island. You can view your voter record on Rhode Island’s Secretary of State website. 

How do I do that?

To register to vote, you must be a resident of Rhode Island and a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old (you must be 18 to vote), not be incarcerated and not be judged “mentally incompetent” to vote. You can register online in Rhode Island using your RI driver’s license or state ID number, and you can register without those documents for paper submission. 

What's the deadline?

You must register to vote 30 days before an election. You may also register to vote on Election Day, but if you do so you will only be able to vote for President and Vice President, not any state, local or other federal races. 

Where do I find out where my polling site is?

You can find your polling site by entering your address on the voter information center on the Rhode Island Secretary of State website. 

Can I vote by mail?

Rhode Island voters who are unable or prefer not to go to the poll can vote by mail. You can submit a mail ballot application online or print it out and submit it to your local board of canvassers. 

What's the latest date I can turn in my ballot?

The Board of Elections must receive your mail ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You may mail or hand-deliver your ballot. 

Is there a way I can track my ballot?

You can track your ballot by using the system BallotTrax on the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s website. 

What if I need help getting to the polling site?

The Rhode Island Secretary of State website says that "No one should be denied the right to vote based on their ability." In Rhode Island, you can vote by mail, early or on Election Day. Rhode Island polling locations have accessible voting machines, accessible parking, accessible entrance, at least one handicapped-accessible voting booth, clear signage of accessible entrances and voting booths, good lighting, available seats for voters waiting to vote and notepads to communicate in writing. There are other additional provisions when voting in person and by mail. 

Where do I find election results?

Paste BN will have presidential, congressional and statewide race results updating live here. 

Illustrations by Veronica Bravo, Paste BN