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Rhode Island

Do You Need an ID? (Less restrictive)

Yes. A 2011 law tightened ID requirements. Voters previously had to present an identity document, but a photo ID wasn't required. Now, voters must present a current and valid photo ID, which could include a free voter ID provided by the state.

Without ID, a voter may cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted if the signature matches the one on record.

Do You Need an Excuse to Vote Absentee? (Less restrictive)

No excuse is required to mail in an absentee ballot.

What if You Have a Felony Conviction? (Expansive)

Felons are prohibited from voting while in prison.

Can You Vote In Person Before Election Day? (Most restrictive)

No early voting.

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Explainers

Absentee Voting Gets Easier

Nearly 17 percent of the U.S. electorate voted by mail in 2012

Voting Early More Often

36 states allow people to vote in person before Election Day

Who Loses the Right to Vote

All but two states have laws that keep felons from voting

Voter ID Laws Gain Momentum

But many are also being challenged in court

Recent Stories

Introducing “Ballot Watch”

Oct 01, 2014 | By Sarah Childress
Who's allowed to vote? And when? As the November midterms approach, find out how voting laws are changing state-by-state in our interactive database.

Where is Voter Discrimination the Worst?

Aug 06, 2014 | By Sarah Childress
Voting discrimination persists nationwide, but the worst offenders today are still southern states with a history of blocking minorities' access to the ballot, according to a new study by the National Commission on Voting Rights.

New Voter ID Laws Hit Setbacks

May 12, 2014 | By Sarah Childress
Courts are pushing back against laws in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Shelby decision. Several legal battles are still ahead.