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North Carolina’s Photo ID Requirements to Vote
(ENGLISH)

You now need to show an NC driver’s license or other “acceptable photo ID” (see below) to vote with a regular ballot, beginning in the 2023 municipal elections due to an April 2023 ruling by the NC Supreme Court.*

2023 North Carolina's Photo ID Requirements to Vote Resource
(Color)

Learn about North Carolina's new voter ID law

WHAT DOES THE LAW MEAN?

You now need to show an NC driver’s license or other “acceptable photo ID” (see below) to vote with a regular ballot, beginning in the 2023 municipal elections due to an April 2023 ruling by the NC Supreme Court.*

ACCEPTABLE IDs

  • NC driver’s license. Must NOT be expired OR expired for one year or less
  • Non-driver’s ID from NC DMV, free to residents who show a birth certificate and other documents. Must NOT be expired OR expired for one year or less
  • U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card. Must NOT be expired OR expired for one year or less
  • 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. Must NOT be expired OR expired for one year or less
  • College or university student ID approved by the NCSBE. Must NOT be expired OR expired for one year or less
  • State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the NCSBE. Must NOT be expired OtR expired for one year or less.
  • 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. Must NOT be expired OR expired for one year or less.
  • Tribal Enrollment Card. Must be issued by tribe recognized by NC or federal government. May be expired or have no expiration date
  • Military or veteran ID card issued by the U.S. government. May be expired or have no expiration date
  • Public Assistance Program ID card issued by U.S. government or State of North Carolina. May be expired or have no expiration date

WHAT ELSE DO I 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 forgot to bring your acceptable photo ID, you can vote a provisional ballot, and 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 don’t have an acceptable photo ID, (whether voting in person or by mail), you can request and fill out an ID Exception Form (also known as a reasonable impediment form) and vote a provisional ballot.

Check back for more information as it becomes available and resources at www.gotidnc.org OR call the voter assistance hotline at 888-OUR-VOTE