Voter Registration
Voting is fundamental to our democracy. Unfortunately, and all too often, the importance of this single act is ignored, especially by our youth. In 2016, over 469,000 Rhode Islanders made their voices heard by casting their vote in the general election, but just 26% of those aged 18-24 voted. It is imperative to engage our next generation in the civic process. The Higher Education Amendment of 1998 requires all universities, including RIC, to provide students with the opportunity to register to vote and access to voter information.
For Rhode Island Residents:
Rhode Island residents can go to
vote.ri.gov as their one stop shop for elections information. Eligible voters can:
- Register to vote online
- Update voter information
- Find their local polling place, preview a sample ballot, and view their elected officials
There are three ways to vote in Rhode Island.
- Vote with a
mail ballot
- Vote early with an
emergency mail ballot
- Vote at the polls
on election day
For a calendar with important election dates and deadlines, click
here.
The RI Department of State also developed
rivotes.org, a peer to peer video guide to voting in RI.
For Out of State Residents
Out of state residents can also go to
https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Voter/VotebyMail to learn about how to request mail ballots in their home states.
If you are an out-of-state resident who wants to register to vote in Rhode Island, it is recommended to speak with the RIC financial aid office to make sure doing so does not impact your financial aid. For more information on this topic, please email
elections@sos.ri.gov.
