State facts
- Population
- 1,114,521 (2025 estimate; 1,097,357 in the 2020 Census)
- Seats in the U.S. House
- 2
- State legislature
- Senate: 38 members, 2-year terms
- House of Representatives: 75 members, 2-year terms
- Governor’s term
- Four-year term, limited to two terms in a row; after four years out of office, a former governor may run again.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 state population estimates; National Conference of State Legislatures. Checked October 19, 2026.
Who represents Rhode Island now
- Governor
- Daniel McKee · Democratic · since March 2021Seat on the Nov. 3 ballot
- U.S. senators
- Jack Reed · Democratic · since 1997Seat on the Nov. 3 ballot
- Sheldon Whitehouse · Democratic · since 2007
- U.S. House members
- 2 seats · Democratic: 2
Sources: National Governors Association (party and start date: Wikidata); congress-legislators (current members of Congress). Checked October 19, 2026.
Voting in Rhode Island
From the state election office’s own website. Each answer shows the official wording it comes from.
- Register on Election Day
Same-day registration is allowed for presidential elections only. A voter who registers on Election Day can vote only for President and Vice President.
Official wording: “Rhode Island allows same-day voter registration for presidential elections only. If you miss the voter registration deadline, you can register to vote on Election Day but you will only be able to vote for President and Vice President.” — state election office, page read October 17, 2026
- Register online
Voters can register online through the Voter Information Center. The page says to have a Rhode Island driver's license or state ID ready.
Official wording: “To register online: Go to the Voter Information Center. Remember to have your Rhode Island driver's license or state ID ready.” — state election office, page read October 17, 2026
- Who can vote by mail
Rhode Island voters who are unable to go to the polls on Election Day, or who prefer not to, can vote by mail.
Official wording: “Rhode Island voters who are unable, or prefer not, to go the polls on Election Day can vote by mail.” — state election office, page read October 17, 2026
- Mail ballot due
The Board of Elections must receive your mail ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Official wording: “The Board of Elections must receive your mail ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day” — state election office, page read October 17, 2026
- ID at the polls
State law requires all voters to present valid photo identification before voting at the polls.
Official wording: “Rhode Island state law 17-19-24.2 requires all voters to present valid photo identification prior to voting at the polls in all elections beginning in 2014.” — state election office, page read October 18, 2026
- Election Day hours
All polling places open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. New Shoreham opens at 9 a.m.
Official wording: “All polling places in the state open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., with the exception of New Shoreham, which opens at 9 a.m.” — state election office, page read October 19, 2026
For anything not listed, and to check your registration, see Rhode Island’s election office: vote.sos.ri.gov
Ballot measures5
Federal1
Statewide3
Federal candidate lists come from FEC filings. A candidate is marked “on the ballot” once their campaign files a pre-general report or the state’s official candidate list confirms it; others filed for 2026 but may have lost a primary or withdrawn.