Pre-18 voter registration in
Rhode Island
In Rhode Island 15,232
people turn 18 every year.
Rhode Islanders can 
pre-register before turning 18.
To register to vote in Rhode Island, you must be: 16 years old. That means all eligible seniors, juniors and most sophomores in your high school can register to vote today and vote at 18*.
*In Rhode Island, 17-year-olds can vote in primaries if they will be 18 by Nov 3, 2026.
High school students can help one another get ready to vote. 
Next Steps!
How to Register to Vote in Rhode Island
Upcoming Elections:
- Sep 8th, 2026 - Rhode Island Primary Election (Register by Aug 9th, 2026)
- Nov 3rd, 2026 - Rhode Island General Election (Register by Oct 4th, 2026)
Useful Links:
- Registration Form - Download the paper registration form for Rhode Island.
- Registration Status - Check if you are already registered, your polling place, and more from your state’s voter registration website.
- Fair Elections Center - Learn about conducting a registration drive in Rhode Island.
- Vote 411 - A nonpartisan resource to help you register, preview your ballot, and find key election information from the League of Women Voters.
- VoteRiders - Find out what forms of ID you can use to register and vote, and get help getting a valid form of ID.
Full Registration Details
By Mail: ID Requirements
When submitting your form by mail in Rhode Island, you are required to provide your Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issued driver’s license or State ID number, if you have one. If you have not been issued one of these ID numbers, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have not been issued any of these numbers, indicate NONE. The State of Rhode Island will assign a unique identifying number to you.
By Mail: Eligibility Requirements
To register in Rhode Island you must:
be a United States citizen
be a resident of Rhode Island and of the city or town where you wish to vote at least 30 days before the next election
be at least 16 years of age (you must be at least 18 years old on or before a general or special election to vote)
not currently be incarcerated in a correctional facility due to a felony conviction
not have been lawfully judged to be mentally incompetent
By Mail: New Voter Instructions
If you are registering to vote for the first time in your jurisdiction and are mailing your registration form, federal law requires you to show proof of identification the first time you vote. You will also be asked to provide proof of identity that meets state law. Visit the Rhode Island Department of State Elections Division website to learn more.
Online Instructions
To register online in Rhode Island, you need to provide your Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) -issued driver’s license or state ID number. If you don’t have a Rhode Island-issued ID, you can still submit a voter registration form by mail.
More information here.
Rhode Island High School Educators!!!
Support your students’ voter registration effort with our free toolkit.
Rhode Island Requirements for High School Voter Registration
Election boards must conduct voter-registration drives annually in high schools.
About this information
This page presents a curated compilation of voting and election information, specifically geared toward high school students, their families, and educators.
Information about deadlines and voting laws is retrieved via the Democracy Works Elections API and was last retrieved on Mar 30th, 2026; the API compiles election guidance from official government sources and other vetted data providers, and details may change over time. Information concerning requirements for high schools is based on The Civics Center’s analysis of State Requirements for High School Voter Registration and was last updated on Mar 27th, 2026.
See More
Information about youth turning 18 each year is from the U.S. Census, and information on the number of 18-year-olds who have not yet registered is based on applying TCC’s analysis of Census data and state voter files. We also provide links to trusted resources, including VoteRiders (for voter ID information) and Fair Elections Center (for information about laws governing voter registration drives).
These pages are offered for guidance only and are not intended as legal advice. Please consult state election officials or an attorney if you have questions about any particular situation. We hope you find this useful. To cite our resources and original research, please provide links and/or cite The Civics Center.
© 2026 The Civics Center
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