To be eligible to vote, you must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- A resident of a Rhode Island city or town where you wish to vote
- 18 years old
- 17-year-olds may vote in primaries for a general or special election if they will be 18 by the general election
- 16-year-olds may pre-register to vote
- Not currently deemed non-compos mentis by a court of law.
- Not currently incarcerated in a correctional facility under a felony conviction
Incarcerated Voters & Returning Citizens:
In Rhode Island, you only lose your right to vote if you are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. If you lost your voting rights because of a conviction, you could register to vote immediately after release. Your voting rights are not restricted by pretrial detention, misdemeanors, probation, or parole.
Voters without traditional residence:
It is not mandatory for citizens to possess a "permanent home" for voter registration. A citizen can provide an alternative description of their residence, even if they are experiencing homelessness, as long as it enables the authorities to identify and assign a voting precinct to them. This precinct assignment ensures that the voter receives the appropriate ballot. The mailing address on their registration form can be a P.O. box, local shelter, advocacy organization, outreach center, or the home of someone who will accept mail for them.