Voter ID

Overview

Click the links below to jump to specific parts of this page to learn about the photo ID requirement for voting in North Carolina.

Photo ID Required for Voting

Photo ID Required for Voting

Watch: Learn all about the new voter photo ID requirement.

Voters will be asked to show photo ID when voting in North Carolina.

For most voters, they will simply show their driver’s license. But there are many other acceptable photo IDs.

If a voter does not have an acceptable photo ID, they can get one for free from the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). Find more information under “No-Fee ID Cards” at State IDs | NCDMV. Voters can also get free ID from their county board of elections.

All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID. If a voter cannot show photo ID when voting in person, they can still vote by filling out an ID Exception Form. For absentee-by-mail voters, if they are unable to include a copy of their photo ID in their ballot return envelope, they can also fill out an ID Exception Form with their ballot. Find more information under ID Exceptions below.

Infosheet: North Carolina Voter Photo ID Requirement (PDF)

Download the NC State Board’s printer-friendly info sheet to review the voter photo ID requirement outlined on this page.

Also read: 10 Facts About NC’s Photo ID Requirement.

In-Person Voters

Voters must show an acceptable photo ID when they check in at their voting site during early voting or on Election Day. Election workers check to see if the picture on the ID reasonably resembles the voter. The address on the photo ID does not have to match the voter registration records.

If the voter does not show an acceptable ID, the voter may proceed in one of the two following ways:

vote with an ID Exception Form and a provisional ballot, or
vote with a provisional ballot and return to their county board of elections office with their photo ID by the day before county canvass. (For municipal elections in September and October, this deadline is the Monday following Election Day. For all other elections, the deadline is the second Thursday following Election Day.)

Absentee-By-Mail Voters

Voters who vote by mail must include a photocopy of an acceptable ID inside the “photo ID envelope” that comes with their ballot. Or they may complete an ID Exception Form with the absentee ballot return envelope.

ID Exceptions

If any voter is unable to show photo ID when voting (whether in person or by mail), they may fill out an ID Exception Form and vote their ballot. The voter will choose from the following permitted exceptions:

The voter has a “reasonable impediment” to showing photo ID. This means that something is preventing the voter from showing ID. The voter must provide their reason by selecting from the following choices on the form.
- You cannot get an ID because of:
  - Lack of transportation
  - Disability or illness
  - Lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to get an ID
  - Work or school schedule
  - Family responsibilities
- Photo ID is lost, stolen, or misplaced
- Applied for photo ID but have not received it
- (For mail voters only) Unable to attach a copy of photo ID (Voter must include driver’s license number or last four digits of social security number on the form)
- Other reasonable impediment (if selected, the voter must write the reason on the form)
- State or federal law prohibits voter from listing the reason
The voter has a religious objection to being photographed.
The voter was a victim of a natural disaster within 100 days before Election Day that resulted in a disaster declaration by the President of the United States or the Governor of North Carolina.

County boards of elections must count provisional ballots with truthfully completed ID Exception Forms.

FAQ

Acceptable Photo IDs for Voting

Any of the following that is unexpired, or expired for one year or less:

North Carolina driver’s license
State ID from the NCDMV, also called “non-operator ID”
Driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election)
U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport card
North Carolina voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections (see Get a Free Voter Photo ID)
College or university student photo ID approved by the State Board of Elections (see callout below)
State or local government or charter school employee photo ID approved by the State Board of Elections (see callout below)

Note: A voter 65 or older may use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday.

Any of the following, regardless of whether the ID contains an expiration or issuance date:

Military or veterans ID card with photo issued by the U.S. government
Tribal enrollment card with photo issued by a tribe recognized by the State of North Carolina or the federal government
ID card with photo issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the State of North Carolina for a public assistance program
- Note: Although this is an acceptable form of ID under North Carolina law, the State Board is not aware of any such ID in circulation that contains a photo. All IDs for voting are required to have a photo.

Continue for details about free photo ID, and information for in-person and absentee voters.