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Rhode Island elections, 2023
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Ballotpedia is the digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections. Our goal is to inform people about politics by providing accurate and objective information about politics at all levels of government. We are firmly committed to neutrality in our content.
This page provides information on the 2023 elections in Rhode Island, including the offices on the ballot covered by Ballotpedia, election dates, and frequently asked questions.
Election dates
Statewide election dates in Rhode Island are listed below. For more dates, please see the elections calendar.
Statewide election dates
There were no statewide elections in Rhode Island this year. See the Ballotpedia calendar page for more election dates.
Offices on the ballot
| Rhode Island elections, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Elections? | More information |
| U.S. Senate | — | — |
| U.S. House | — | — |
| Congress special election | ✓ | Click here |
| Governor | — | — |
| Other state executive | — | — |
| State Senate | — | — |
| State House | — | — |
| Special state legislative | ✓ | Click here |
| State Supreme Court | — | — |
| Intermediate appellate courts | — | — |
| School boards | — | — |
| Municipal government | — | — |
| Recalls | — | — |
| Ballot measures | — | — |
| Local ballot measures | — | — |
Legend: ✓ election(s) / — no elections
Subject to Ballotpedia's scope
Noteworthy elections
Below is a list of races in this state that received in-depth coverage on Ballotpedia. Click the link below to learn about that race.
Frequently asked questions
When are the polls open?
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.[1]
See State Poll Opening and Closing Times (2023) for more information
Where can I find election results?
Election results are posted on Ballotpedia's election overview pages, as well as the relevant candidate pages. You can find links to the current election overview pages in the "Offices on the ballot" section of this page.
How do primaries work in Rhode Island?
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election.
Rhode Island utilizes a semi-closed primary system. Unaffiliated voters may vote in a party's primary without affiliating with that party. Voters that are affiliated with a party at the time of the primary election may only vote in that party's primary.[2][3][4]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
How do I register to vote?
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Rhode Island, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Rhode Island, and at least 16 years old. To voter, one must be at least 18 years old by Election Day.[5] Applicants can register online, by mailing in a voter registration form, or in person at the local board of canvassers or other state agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Human Services, or the Department of Mental Health.[5]
Is there an early voting period?
- See also: Early voting
Rhode Island permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Who is eligible for absentee voting?
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
All Rhode Island voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail.[6]
Absentee ballot applications must be received by your local board of canvassers by 4 p.m. 21 days prior to the election. Completed absentee ballots must then be received by your local board of canvassers by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Should circumstances arise within 20 days of an election that will prevent a voter from making it to the polls on Election Day, he or she may qualify for an emergency mail ballot. More information regarding the emergency mail ballot process can be found here.[6][7][8]
What are the voter ID laws in Rhode Island?
See Voter identification laws by state.
How do I file to run for office?
See Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Rhode Island for information on how to run for state or federal office.
What does Ballotpedia cover?
Ballotpedia's coverage extends to all elections on the federal level, all gubernatorial, state legislative, statewide ballot measure, and statewide judicial elections, as well as many other types of state executive offices. Ballotpedia also covers all elections in the U.S. territories, but not elections in other countries.
Local election coverage includes comprehensive ballot coverage for municipal and judicial elections in the top 100 cities by population and races for the large counties that overlap them. In the state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities, it includes coverage of mayoral, city council, and district attorney elections. It also includes school board elections in the top 200 largest school districts by enrollment, all California local ballot measures, and notable local ballot measures from across the nation.
Please note that Ballotpedia's election coverage does not encompass all local offices. Election information is not published in a timely manner for many local offices, which makes it infeasible to gather the necessary data given our limited resources. However, Ballotpedia's coverage scope for local elections continues to grow, and you can use Ballotpedia's sample ballot tool to see what local elections we are covering in your area.
How do I contact Ballotpedia with a question?
Email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Local election officials
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Redistricting following the 2020 census
This section lists major events in the post-2020 census redistricting cycle in reverse chronological order. Major events include the release of apportionment data, the release of census population data, the introduction of formal map proposals, the enactment of new maps, and noteworthy court challenges. Click the dates below for additional information.
- February 16, 2022: Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed legislation redrawing the state's congressional and legislative district boundaries.
- February 15, 2022: The House and Senate passed legislative and congressional maps.
- January 12, 2022: The Special Commission on Reapportionment voted to approve state legislative and congressional maps.
- January 5, 2022: The commission voted 15-1 to approve new guidelines concerning the residency status of prison inmates.
- December 13, 2021: The commission released a third General Assembly map draft.
- December 9, 2021: The commission released a third Senate map draft.
- December 3, 2021: The commission released map proposals for General Assembly districts.
- September 16, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau released data from the 2020 census in an easier-to-use format to state redistricting authorities and the public.
- September 9, 2021: The Rhode Island General Assembly's Special Commission on Reapportionment held its first meeting.
- August 12, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau delivered redistricting data to states in a legacy format.
- April 26, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau delivered apportionment counts.
Footnotes
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections, "General Election Polling Place Hours", accessed November 19, 2022
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ Bill Track 50, "RI H7662," accessed July 21, 2024
- ↑ State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "R.I. Gen. Laws § 17–9.1-23 ," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Rhode Island Department of State, "Register to Vote," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rhode Island Department of State, "Vote from Home with a Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Apply for a Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Vote by Emergency Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
