Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 410 - Board of Elections
Chapter 20 - Elections
Subchapter 00 - N/A
Part 19 - Voter Registration (410-RICR-20-00-19)
Section 410-RICR-20-00-19.5 - Voter Registration Form

a. Type of registration

b. Declaration of "Citizenship", "Residence" & "Age"

c. Rhode Island Driver's License or State ID Card Number/Last 4 Digits of Social Security number

d. The applicant shall provide information as set forth below and more fully set forth under § 19.5(C) of this Part.

e. Applicant's Full Name

f. Home Address (residence address)

g. Mailing Address (address where mail is received if different from (e). Home Address)

h. Date of Birth

i. Phone Number/E-Mail Address (The completion of this data is optional and information submitted on the voter registration form is statutorily defined as a public record.)

j. Party Affiliation (if any)

k. Affirmation, Signature & Date

l. Previous Name

m. Previous Address

a. "In-Person" registrations are those registrations that are personally delivered by the applicant or are completed by the applicant at the Board of Elections or other Voter Registration Agency where election officials are available to assist registrants and receive the registration forms; or submitting an electronic in-person application for voter registration through the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-9.1-7. The effective date of registration shall be the date of submission of the completed registration form to the Voter Registration Agency or the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles.

b. "Third Party" registrations are voter registrations that are delivered by someone other than the applicant to either the State Board, Secretary of State or local board of canvassers, or downloaded from the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles website in conjunction with an online driver's license renewal. The effective date of registration shall be the date of submission by the third party of the completed registration form to either the State Board, Secretary of State or local board.

c. "Mail" registrations are those registrations mailed through the United States Postal Service or delivered by commercial carrier to the State Board, Secretary of State or a local board of canvassers. The effective date of registration shall be the date the completed registration form is postmarked, however, if there is no postmark or the postmark is illegible and the registration form is received within 5 days of the registration deadline, then the application is effective on the last day to vote for that election. If there is no postmark or the postmark is illegible and the registration form is received more than 5 days after the registration deadline, then the effective date of registration is the date received by the State Board or local board.

d. "Electronic registration of voters." A person may register to vote or update existing voter registration information by electronically submitting the registration on the website for the Secretary of State or other electronic portal established by the Secretary for the purpose of receiving voter registrations. The electronic application shall contain all of the information required by Rhode Island law, including the criteria set forth under R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-9.1-9 and this regulation, except that said application shall be accepted without signature when such signature may be obtained from another state agency, quasi-public agency, or municipality data base. In such circumstance, the Secretary shall verify that the applicant information is accurate by cross-referencing the information submitted with the data or information contained in a data base administered by a state agency, quasi-public agency, or municipality or by the federal government or any other voter registration data base of any other state. The use of such information from any other data base shall be exclusively for the purpose of verifying the information submitted by an applicant and shall not be conveyed to or shared with any other governmental or non-governmental entity or person for any reason except for voter registration purposes or pursuant to a court order. The applicant shall expressly authorize the transmittal for voter registration purposes to the Secretary and the local boards of canvassers his or her signature that is on file with any state agency, quasi-public agency or municipality. The voter registrant shall also certify that all of the information submitted electronically to the Secretary is both true and correct as of the date of electronic submission.

e. The Secretary's portal for voter registrations and any related form shall be available in any language required by either federal or state voting rights laws and shall comply with all requirements under Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131 through 12165, and with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Compliance Level AA.

a. A copy of a current and valid photo identification provided by a third party in the ordinary course of business that includes the name and photograph of the applicant. In addition to a current and valid Rhode Island driver's license and Rhode Island State ID, the acceptable forms of photo identification include:

b. A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, lease or rental statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the applicant.

c. A copy of the above-listed document must be provided:

d. Upon confirmation of the applicant's identity, the identification documents submitted by the voter shall be destroyed.

a. the applicant fails to respond to the questions regarding age and citizenship or answers "No" to either or both questions; or

b. The applicant fails to sign the form.

c. The local board of canvassers shall notify the applicant of the reason the registration was not accepted. Said notice shall be in writing and sent immediately, no later than seven (7) days following receipt of the registration.

a. When a first-time voter registration applicant provides a Rhode Island driver's license number, Rhode Island State ID number or last 4 digits of a Social Security number that cannot be matched to the applicant but the State or local board of canvassers is able to otherwise accurately match an applicant's driver's license number, State identification number, or last four digits of his or her Social Security number with data maintained either on the CVRS, Division of Motor Vehicles or federal Social Security Administration, with or without seeking additional information or clarification from the applicant, then the applicant shall be registered to vote, effective as of the date of the submission or receipt of the application;

b. In the event that the State or local board of canvassers is unable to match the first-time voter registration applicant to a driver's license number, State identification number or last four digits of the Social Security number, despite a search of the CVRS, or an inquiry to the Division of Motor Vehicles or federal Social Security Administration, then the local board of canvassers will immediately (no later than 7 days) notify the applicant in writing and inform the applicant that he or she must present an alternative form of identification listed in §§ 19.5(C)(3)(a) or (b) of this Part above to the local board of canvassers or to a polling place official and shall be deemed registered to vote effective as of the original date of submission or his or her application.

c. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section, if the State or local board of canvassers is able to match an applicant's driver's license number, State identification card, or last four digits of his or her Social Security number with the records maintained on the CVRS, Division of Motor Vehicles or federal Social Security Administration, with or without seeking additional information or clarification from the applicant, then the applicant shall be registered to vote, effective as of the date of the submission or receipt of the original application, unless there exists a separate basis for concluding that the applicant is ineligible to vote independent of the matching process.