Vote By Mail In RI: What To Know

Although the deadline to apply for a mail ballot for the upcoming Sept. 8 primary, has passed, Rhode Islanders still have the opportunity to request one for the general election in November.

Voters who applied for a mail ballot have until 8 p.m. on Sept. 8 to return it to the state's Board of Elections. Those who plan to mail their ballot are strongly encouraged to do so by Sept. 2, or the signed, sealed ballot can be dropped into any secure dropbox around the state, or at the board's offices at 2000 Plainfield Pike, Suite A in Cranston. Voters can check the status of their ballot on the Secretary of State's website.

"Voting from home is a safe and secure option, especially during this pandemic," Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea said.

Related: RI Voters Divided About Voting by Mail

The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the decision to suspend the requirement for two witnesses or a notarized signature on ballots, a move challenged by the Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of Rhode Island.

"Your health should never be the price of admission to our democracy," Gorbea said of the decision. "Making it easier to vote safely from home by removing the burden of obtaining two witnesses or a notary is a common-sense step that will protect Rhode Islanders during this pandemic. ... I thank the Supreme Court for delivering their decision in a timely manner and I look forward to delivering Rhode Islanders safe and secure elections they can trust."

A spokesperson for Gorbea's office said 47,963 applications were submitted for the primary. Of these, around 3,100 were rejected because the voter did not have a primary in their community.

No primary:

• Barrington
• Lincoln
• Warren

No primary in some precincts:

• Cumberland
• East Providence
• Middletown
• North Providence
• Portsmouth
• Providence
• Tiverton
• Woonsocket

Residents have until Oct. 4 to register to vote, and can request a mail ballot application until Oct. 13.

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

Once a voter is registered, they can download a mail ballot application online, then mail it or bring it to their local Board of Canvassers. As with the primary, voters are encouraged to mail their ballot back as soon as possible to ensure it is received by Election Day.

For the first time, Rhode Island voters also have the opportunity to vote in-person ahead of election day. Early voting is available in the 20 years leading up to the election at the voter's town or city hall. Early voting for the primary began Aug. 19, and it will be available for the general election starting Oct. 14. A valid photo ID is required.

To help voters navigate the upcoming September and November elections, Gorbea's office teamed up with the United Way of Rhode Island to launch a 211 voter information hotline, answering questions about registering to vote, the different ways to vote, how to apply for a mail ballot and more.

"It’s vital that Rhode Islanders turn to trusted sources for elections information like the 2-1-1 Voter Information Hotline and vote.ri.gov this year," Gorbea said. "The pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives, and elections are no exception. We’re here to answer any questions you have so you can still exercise your fundamental right to vote. Thank you to United Way of Rhode Island for stepping up and partnering with my office on this important and innovative public resource."