In-Person Early Voting and Emergency Ballots

Early In-Person Voting

Rhode Island General Law allows voters to vote early in-person on the 20 days leading up to Election Day. Any registered voter who is unable to vote at their polling place on Election Day has the option to Vote Early. Voting Early is very similar to voting in person on Election Day. Voters are required to check in on the electronic poll pad book using an acceptable form of photo ID.  The voter then receives a ballot that they will mark and cast it by entering it into the DS200 tabulator to be counted. These ballots will be tabulated on election night after 8:00 p.m. when the polls close. Early voting is typically held at city or town hall or at a location designated by the local board of canvassers.  

Emergency Mail Ballots

In the 20-days leading up to Election Day, a voter may apply for an emergency mail ballot by obtaining an application from the local Board of Canvassers. The voter or their authorized representative must return the application by 4:00 P.M. the day before the election. If the application is accepted, the local Board of Canvassers will issue the voter a ballot with an envelope that they must complete and return to the Board of Canvassers or an official Elections Drop-box by 8 P.M. on election night.

If you missed the voter registration deadline and would like to vote for President and Vice President by mail, you must apply with your local board of canvassers by submitting a voter registration form and an emergency mail ballot application. For the November 5 general election, the deadline to submit those forms is October 29 at 4 p.m.

Early and Emergency ballots must be voted or applied for in the city or town in which the voter resides.

All mail ballots and emergency mail ballots must be received by the State Board of Elections at 2000 Plainfield Pike, Suite A, Cranston, R.I. 02921 by 8:00 P.M. the night of the election.

Surrendering Mail Ballots for Early Voting is not permitted.

A voter cannot surrender his mail ballot in exchange for an early in-person ballot to be cast at the early voting location. Once the mail ballot application is accepted, the voter can either return the completed mail ballot for tabulation or vote a Provisional Ballot in person on Election Day at his or her designated polling place. Given the proximity of the election, and the need to ensure the integrity and security of the ballot, it is not administratively possible to substitute different forms of mail ballots. For the full statement click here.

Call your local Board of Canvassers for more information.