By Gina Macris

There are no excuses for failing to vote by Nov. 3.

That’s what my four-footed friend Ray told me after he stole my mail ballot application from the kitchen counter and pawed open the screen door for a jaunt around the house, with me trailing behind.

Before he dropped the envelope in favor of a carrot – Ray loves his vegetables –he had eaten enough of the application to void it. But no worries. I just printed another one from Rhode Island’s Voter Information website.

On Tuesday morning, it landed at my town’s Board of Canvassers.

That’s all there is to it. Print it. Fill it out. Put on a mask. Drop it off.

Any registered Rhode Island voter may request an absentee ballot for no particular reason other than being uncertain whether he or she will be able to get to the polls Nov. 3, or earlier.

Registered voters have until Oct. 13 at 4 pm – still plenty of time - to get the application to their local Board of Canvassers. Completed ballots must arrive at the Board of Elections by Nov. 3, Election Day.

For the first time, Rhode Island will allow early in-person voting at local boards of canvassers beginning Oct. 14. The Secretary of State’s Office has an online guide, here.

People with disabilities may have assistants help them with the logistics of voting.

On Oct. 8 at 6 p.m., Advocates in Action, the non-profit organization which aims to educate adults with developmental disabilities to advocate for themselves, will hold a step-by-step virtual presentation on voting to give prospective voters confidence about going through the process.

“Your voice and your vote matter!” say organizers. Those interested in the Advocates In Action presentation are asked to pre-register for the meeting here.

Disability Rights Rhode Island (DRRI), meanwhile, has posted a link to a video from Rooted in Rights that explains the various ways voters with disabilities may get help.

DRRI stands ready to help people who have questions about their voting rights or how to vote, who believe their voting rights have been violated, or who want to request a group training about voting rights. Contact DRRI at 401-831-3150 or 1-800-733-5332. For TTY call 401-831-5335. Live assistance is available during business hours and while polls are open on Nov. 3. Messages to the 24-hour answering service will be returned in a day’s time, according to the DRRI website.

As for me, I’m just staying alert to Ray’s next move while I wait for my absentee ballot to arrive.