Town of Portsmouth, RI

CANVASSING

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Register to Vote?

Registering to vote is the first step every citizen takes to become an eligible voter. You may register by completing a Voter Registration Form. These are available at the Canvassing Authority Office in Town Hall and the RI Registry of Motor Vehicles. You may register at any time, but to be eligible to vote in the upcoming election, you must be registered at least 30 days in advance.

Registration Requirements:

  • You must be a citizen of the United States
  • You must be a resident of Rhode Island
  • You must be at least 18 years of age on or before the election
  • You must not be in prison, on parole or on probation for the conviction of a felony.

If you are a first-time applicant for voter registration in Rhode Island and mail your registration form YOU MUST SUBMIT WITH YOUR REGISTRATION either:

a)     a copy of a current and valid photo identification; or

b)     a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address.

 

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Am I Eligible to Vote by Mail Ballot?

If you are a registered voter, you may vote by mail only if you fall into one of the categories listed below:

  1. absent from the state on election day during the entire time the polls are open;
  2. absent from the city or town of your voting residence during the entire time the polls are open because of your status as a student or spouse of a student at an institution of higher learning within the state;
  3. incapacitated to such an extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls due to illness or mental or physical disability, blindness or a serious impairment of mobility;
  4. forbidden by the tenets of your religious faith from voting on election day;
  5. confined to a hospital, rest home, convalescent home, nursing home, or similar institution, public or private;
  6. detained while awaiting trial or imprisoned for any cause other than final conviction of a felony;
  7. temporarily absent from the state because of employment or service connected with military operations or are a spouse or dependent of such person;
  8. employed by the State Board of Elections or the local board of canvassers, or assigned to work at a polling place outside of your voting district.

 

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Where do I Vote?

The State’s web site has a list of all households with registered voters and where they vote in November. To check your polling site click on this link and follow the instructions:

http://www.sec.state.ri.us/vic/

This information lists where someone who lives at your address would vote. This does not ensure that you are registered to vote, or you are registered to vote to the correct address. If you have any questions about whether or where you are registered to vote please call us at 683-3157 for more information.

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Who Represents Me and How Do I Contact Them?

Click here for a list of elected officials.

 

 

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