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Rhode Island HOA and condo electronic voting law
Can a homeowners or condominium association in Rhode Island hold its vote online? Here is what state law says and what it means for your board.
Yes. State law expressly allows electronic voting
Status: Express (condos). Main law: RIGL 34-36.1-3.08 (effective Jun 24, 2025).
Reviewed September 16, 2026. A summary of state law, not legal advice. Confirm with your association's attorney before a binding vote.
The rules at a glance
| Legal status | Allowed by statute (Express (condos)) |
|---|---|
| Main statute | RIGL 34-36.1-3.08 (effective Jun 24, 2025) |
| How electronic voting gets authorized | Electronic meeting with quorum, overriding documents |
| Secret ballot and counting | No state rule found. Check your governing documents. |
| Paper ballot option | Not required |
| Ballot retention | State law does not set a period |
A state statute speaks to electronic voting for community associations. Read how it gets authorized below: some statutes let the board decide, some require each owner to consent, and some let governing documents opt out.
Running a Rhode Island vote with VoteStead
Available now, with attorney sign-off
VoteStead runs Rhode Island elections with a Rhode Island rule pack. Before a binding vote, the board confirms the state's required steps in the admin console. Until VoteStead's review of Rhode Island law is complete, a binding vote also needs a sign-off letter from your association's attorney. Test elections run without it.
Features Rhode Island law turns off or changes
- Condominiums: Voting is tied to an owner meeting. Rhode Island condominium electronic voting happens at an electronic meeting with a quorum. Tie the vote to a noticed owner meeting.
What every VoteStead election includes
- Ballots sealed on the owner's device and stored with no name attached
- A 2-of-3 key split, so nobody opens ballots before voting closes
- Email and text invitations, plus mailed notices with access codes
- Quorum tracking and automatic reminders to owners who have not voted
- A tracker code so each owner confirms their ballot counted
Rhode Island questions
Can an HOA or condo association in Rhode Island vote online?
Yes. State law expressly allows electronic voting (Express (condos)). How it gets authorized: Electronic meeting with quorum, overriding documents. Main law: RIGL 34-36.1-3.08 (effective Jun 24, 2025). Reviewed September 16, 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice.
What are the Rhode Island secret ballot and vote counting rules?
The review found no Rhode Island statute requiring secret ballots for these votes. Your governing documents may require one. VoteStead seals every ballot so nobody sees how an owner voted.
Do owners in Rhode Island keep a paper ballot option?
Rhode Island rule: Not required. VoteStead supports mailed voting notices with access codes for owners who get their mail on paper.
How long must a Rhode Island association keep ballots?
Rhode Island law does not set a period for these ballots. VoteStead keeps sealed ballots for 1 year after voting closes by default.
Is VoteStead available for Rhode Island associations?
Yes. VoteStead runs Rhode Island elections with a Rhode Island rule pack. Features the state does not allow are turned off. Until VoteStead's review of Rhode Island law is complete, a binding vote needs a sign-off letter from the association's attorney. Test elections run without it.