Rhode Island
Rhode Island
GradeB
Year2024
TierMid Tier

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Responsive Gov’s Grade TL;DR

During this past session, the Rhode Island State Legislature continued to make small changes to expand voter access – albeit, less impactful laws in comparison to last year. Unfortunately, it yet again missed an opportunity to remove barriers to voter registration by failing to pass legislation to upgrade its existing automatic voter registration system to a more secure and efficient system. It also failed to refer an initiative to voters to authorize same-day registration. Therefore, Rhode Island received a B on this year’s progress report.

Looking Back

Where Rhode Island Started at the Beginning of 2024

  • Automatic Voter Registration: Partial AVR
  • Online Voter Registration: DMV ID
  • Same-Day Registration: Yes (presidential races only)
  • Restoration of Rights: Prison Disenfranchisement
  • Vote by Mail: No-Excuse
  • Electronic Registration Information Center Member: Yes
  • Early Voting Opportunities: Regular Ballot Early Voting
  • ID Requirements: ID Requested, but not Required

Relying on the Cost of Voting Index for Rhode Island as of 2024, we considered the state a middle tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2024 activity against other middle tier states.

How Our Tier Compares

  • COVI (2024): 22nd
  • EPI Score (2022): 6th
  • CLC State Scorecard (2022): 9/10
  • MAP Democracy Rating (2024): MEDIUM

2024: This Past Year

Legislative Action

The Legislature passed several bills aimed at improving voter access.

  • SB 2778/HB 7756 allows mail ballot applications to be accepted if they are postmarked by the deadline and arrive within 3 days.
  • SB 2780/HB 7849 gives voters earlier access to ballot drop boxes by making them available to voters starting 35 days before the election.
  • SB 2418/HB 7662 allows unaffiliated voters to participate in party primaries without joining a party.
  • Unfortunately, the Legislature failed to take action on SB 2654, which would have transitioned the state to a substantially safer, more efficient, and more effective Secure AVR system. Legislators also failed to take action on SJR 227, which would have referred an amendment to the state constitution authorizing same-day registration to voters.