Any member of the armed forces or of the merchant marine of the United States in active service, any person absent from the state in the performance of "services intimately connected with military operations", as defined in § 17-20-3(d), and any person employed outside of the United States, as defined in § 17-20-3(c) who, except for registration, would be a qualified elector of this state, shall be exempt during the period of his or her service or employment and for two (2) years thereafter from the registration requirements of the Constitution of this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-20-4