Rhode Island’s primary elections will officially be held Wednesday, Sept. 9 this year, instead of the usual Tuesday election day.
Voter Registration Deadline: 8/10/26
ALSO **To vote in a party primary, you must disaffiliate from any other party at least 30 days before the primary date.**
Rhode Island has a ‘semi-closed’ party primary system. This means that you may only vote in your party’s primary election. However, if you are registered as an “unaffiliated” voter, you may vote in the primary of any party you choose. You will remain an unaffiliated voter after voting in a particular party’s primary. - If you are affiliated with a political party and wish to disaffiliate, you may do so by updating your voter registration at any time. The disaffiliation takes effect in 30 days. If you wish to vote in another party's primary, you must disaffiliate at least 30 days before the primary date.
officers may have a presence at or near polling places. Federal law enforcement could include
officials or agents from DOJ, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE). Both federal and state law protect the orderly conduct of elections and
prohibit interference with voting at or near polling places, including by federal law enforcement
officials. Federal statutes prohibit armed federal officer presence at election sites, 18 U.S.C. §
592, and voter intimidation, 18 U.S.C. § 594 and 52 U.S.C.§§ 10101(b), 10307(b). Likewise,
Rhode Island law prohibits intimidation or disruptive conduct at polling places, R.I. Gen. Law §
17-23-5 and 17-23-17(a)(7), including interference with the right to vote by the presence of
federal immigration law enforcement within polling places during voting, R.I. Gen. Laws § 17
19-55.
