All students at Brown who are U.S. citizens are eligible to vote either in their home state or in Rhode Island. Those who choose to vote in their home state must register in that state and then apply for, fill out and mail in an absentee ballot.

Whether you’re a student, staff or faculty member, there are a variety of reasons you may want to vote by mail, including having plans to travel out of town on election day, a busy schedule, mobility concerns or simply because it’s more convenient. 

A few tips when voting by mail:

Applying for a ballot

You will need to complete either an online or paper absentee ballot application. Please note that in some states your ballot is verified by matching your signature to ones on file.

Getting postage

There are free stamps and envelopes available at the Swearer Center and at the University and Student Mail and Package Service Center window in Page-Robinson.

Getting notarized

Need your registration or ballot form notarized? Email brown_votes@brown.edu for help. The Swearer Center has three notaries on staff. You can also pay for notarization services at many UPS stores.

Following up

Once your local Board of Elections receives and verifies your ballot application, they will mail you your ballot. Check your Secretary of State website to see when you will receive your ballot; if you do not receive it by said deadline, call your Board of Elections.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Voting Absentee by Mail

College students qualify for dual residency, meaning you can register either in your home state or right here in Rhode island. Deciding where to register is a personal choice, and you should think about the communities you are a part of, the issues you care about, and where you think your vote would matter most.

Registering for a particular political party is ultimately a personal choice, although it often determines which party you can vote for during primary elections. Rules vary state to state for primaries — some have “open” primaries where your party affiliation does not matter, and others are “closed” where you must be a registered party member to participate. However, if you don’t register with a party now, you can still change your registration and decide to vote in the primary of any one party ahead of election day.

Students at Brown who are U.S. citizens are eligible to vote either in their home state or in Rhode Island. Brown Votes partners with the Rhode Island Secretary of State to ensure there is a polling location on campus for students and community members to vote in person.

A healthy democracy depends on active and well-informed voters, so it is vital to have access to reliable and nonpartisan information on elections. Brown Votes recommends resources like BallotReady to research candidate profiles and find sample ballots for your district before going to vote. You can also learn more about the candidates and issues by reviewing candidates' websites, reading local news articles and attending or viewing candidate debates and forums. 

Brown Votes also hosts town halls with local elected officials where Brown community members can ask questions of candidates and learn more about their positions and values. Visit events.brown.edu to view upcoming events.

U.S. citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to vote in federal, state and local elections. In some states and localities, citizens under the age of 18 can pre-register to vote. Brown students are eligible to vote either in Rhode Island or in their home state.

Voter Eligibility FAQ