Rhode Island Absentee Ballot Process

If you are a registered voter, you may vote by mail (absentee voting) only if:

• You are physically unable to vote in a polling place because of illness or physical or mental disability
• You are confined to a nursing home, convalescent home or hospital
• You are away due to employment or service connected with military operations or because you are a spouse or legal dependent who lives with that person or a U.S. citizen who will be outside the United States
• You may not be able to vote at your assigned polling place the day of election.

For more information visit your state site. You may pick up an application yourself, have another person pick one up for you or call your local board and request that an application be sent to you.

The application must be filled out, witnessed or notarized and delivered to the local board so that it is received no later than 4:00 pm on the 21st day before the election. The completed application may be mailed, dropped off by you or personally delivered by a person acting at your request.

If emergency circumstances arise after the regular mail ballot application deadline, you may apply for an emergency mail ballot at your local board of canvassers. You can apply up until 4 p.m. on the day before an election. Your emergency mail ballot must be received by the state Board of Elections no later than 9 p.m. the day of the election.

Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.