Voting Access Scorecard - Rhode Island
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Rhode Island. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Rhode Island ranks 25. You can make a difference! Take action now!Overall score: 17 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/faq/#deadline Note: You must register at least 30 days before a primary or election in which you wish to vote. In Presidential elections, if you miss the deadline, you can still register and vote only for President/Vice-President at your Board of Cannvassers on the day of the election (R.I.G.L. 17-1-3). | N |
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| State offers Election Day registration Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/faq/#deadline Note: You must register at least 30 days before a primary or election in which you wish to vote. In Presidential elections, if you miss the deadline, you can still register and vote only for President/Vice-President at your Board of Cannvassers on the day of the election (R.I.G.L. 17-1-3). | N |
| State has automatic registration Rhode Island Secretary of State: https://twitter.com/RISecState/status/887758572343484418 | Y |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/faq/#deadline | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/faq/#deadline | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/mailballot.php | N |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/mailballot.php | N |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/mailballot.php | N |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/mailballot.php | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/mailballot.php | Y |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/mailballot.php | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/mailballot.php | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://sos.ri.gov/divisions/elections/Voters/vote-by-mail | N |
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| State allows voters to register online Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://sos.ri.gov/divisions/elections/Voters/voter-registration | Y |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Rhode Island Board of Elections: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/ | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://sos.ri.gov/divisions/elections/Voters/voting-on-election-day | N |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/id.php | N |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/id.php | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/id.php | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form RI Gen L 17-9.1-26: http://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2013/title-17/chapter-17-9.1/section-17-9.1-26 | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | Y |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | Y |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Rhode Island Secretary of State: https://twitter.com/RISecState/status/880591051832123393 | N |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/faq/#felony | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/faq/#felony | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/faq/#felony | Y |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-19-3: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE17/17-19/17-19-3.HTM | Y |
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| State requires poll worker training R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-7-5; R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-19-23.1(a): http://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2012/title-17/chapter-17-7/chapter-17-7-5 | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-19-3: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE17/17-19/17-19-3.HTM | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Rhode Island Board of Elections: http://sos.ri.gov/divisions/elections | N |
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