Rhode Island Primary Election: Deadline To Register To Vote

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Islanders only have a few days left to register to vote in the upcoming statewide primary election Sept. 8. Voter registrations must be submitted or updated by Aug. 9.

There are three ways to register to vote in Rhode Island: on Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea's voter website or by filling out a form and mailing it or delivering it by hand to the local board of canvassers.

"Rhode Islanders have several options for voting safely and securely during the COVID-19 pandemic, but being registered is the first step," Gorbea said. "Go to vote.ri.gov to register to vote or make sure your information is up to date. Then you can choose to either vote safely from home, vote early in-person at your city or town hall, or vote at a polling place on Primary Day."

Voters who wish to disaffiliate from their political party before the primary must do so before Aug. 11. Affiliated voters must vote in their party's primary, while disaffiliated voters can choose either Democrat or Republican. By choosing a party, voters will automatically be affiliated. Disaffiliation can be completed online or by filling out a new paper voter registration form and returning it to the local board of canvassers.

Anyone who votes in person can request a disaffiliation form from a poll worker and fill it out before leaving the polling place. Disaffiliation status will be updated within 30 days.

Residents can register to vote in person at one of the locations below.