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We've said it before but it bears repeating: a photo ID will now be required to vote in NC beginning with the municipal elections in the fall of 2023.

 

Here's what we know so far. Share this information so your family, friends, and

community know about these law changes. 

 

First and foremost: what are the acceptable IDs? 

 

Must NOT be expired OR expired for one year or less:

• NC driver’s license
• Non-driver’s ID from NC DMV (free to residents who show a birth certificate and other documents)
• US Passport or Passport Card
• Driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state, District of Columbia or US territory. Only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election. 
• NC Voter Photo ID card (free, issued by a county board of elections). Voter must provide name, date of birth, and the last four numbers of their Social Security number, and have their photo taken. Already available in many counties and in others coming soon! 
• College or university student ID approved by the NCSBE. A list of approved college/university IDs will be published in later July.
• State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the NCSBE

May be expired or have no expiration date

• Tribal Enrollment Card. Must be issued by tribe recognized by NC or federal government
• Military or veteran ID card issued by the US government
• Public Assistance Program ID card issued by US government or State of North Carolina 

What else do you need to know? 

• A voter 65 or older may use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday – it’s good for life!
• The address on your ID does not matter – the law says ID is only used to prove who you are, not where you live. (Make sure your voter registration matches your current address!)
• Mail-in absentee voters must send a copy of an identity document with their ballot request or with the returned ballot OR an affidavit noting lack of access to a method to attach an electronic or physical copy of the identification card to the written request as a reasonable impediment. Additional rules (coming soon) will clarify how this works.
• NOTE: If you don’t have acceptable photo ID, you can vote a provisional ballot, but then you must take an acceptable ID to your county elections board by the day before election results are certified (canvass day, the Monday after Election Day for municipal elections). If  you are unable to show photo ID (whether voting in person or by mail), you may fill out an ID Exception Form (also known as a reasonable impediment form) and vote a provisional ballot.

Due to the recent public comment period around rules for photo ID, there will continue to be updates made to these guidelines in the coming months.  You can find more information at www.gotidnc.org OR call the voter assistance hotline at 888-OUR-VOTE. 

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