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Voter ID

Every NC voter can vote with or without photo ID!

GET A FREE VOTER ID (opens in a new tab)

You can vote with or without photo ID!

  • If you have ID

    Bring it with you to vote

  • If you don’t have ID

    Ask for the Photo ID Exception Form

  • If you forget your ID

    Go back and get it if there's time*

* If there’s not time, vote using a provisional ballot. Then, “cure” (fix) your ballot by bringing your ID to your county board of elections office no later than 12 p.m. on the fifth business day after Election Day (Tuesday, November 10, at 12 p.m. for the 2026 general election). Your vote will count!

Accepted photo IDs

Unexpired or expired for one year or less

  • Free voter ID from your county board of elections

    You must already be registered to vote in your county. No documentation is required. Provide your name, date of birth, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and have your photo taken.

  • NC driver’s license or NC DMV issued ID

    NEW! Due to a recent law change, class C driver’s licenses (the most common type) can be used as voter ID if they are expired for up to three years. This provision of the law expires December 31, 2027.

  • Out-of-state driver’s license or non-driver ID

    Only if the voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election

  • US passport or passport card

  • NC student ID or NC government ID

    Some restrictions apply

Regardless of expiration

  • US military or veteran ID

  • Tribal ID

  • ID card from US or NC government public assistance program

Voting without an ID

In North Carolina, you can vote with or without a photo ID.

Early voting

  • If you forget your ID
    • If you have time, go get it and return to an early voting site before the end of the early voting period.
    • If you don’t have time to vote with your ID before the end of the early voting period AND you can’t vote on Election Day, you can:
      • Vote with a provisional ballot
      • “Cure” (fix) your ballot by bringing your ID to the county board of elections office no later than noon on the fifth business day after Election Day (Tuesday, November 10, at 12 p.m. for the 2026 general election).
      • Your vote will be counted. (Your vote will not be counted if you don’t cure your ballot!)
  • If you don’t have an ID
    • Ask for the Photo ID Exception Form.
    • If you can truthfully complete the form, you will be able to vote with a provisional ballot and your vote will be counted.
    • That’s it! You DO NOT need to return to your county board of elections office to “cure” (fix) your ballot. (Just in case, always follow all instructions provided by election workers.)

Election Day

  • If you forget your ID
    • If you have time, go get it and return to your polling place. Polling places close at 7:30 p.m. If you are in line by 7:30 p.m., you will be able to vote.
    • If you don’t have time, you can:
      • Vote with a provisional ballot.
      • “Cure” (fix) your ballot by bringing your ID to the county board of elections office no later than noon on the fifth business day after Election Day (Tuesday, November 10, at 12 p.m. for the 2026 general election).
      • Your vote will be counted. (Your vote will not be counted if you don’t cure your ballot!)
  • If you don’t have an ID
    • Ask for the Photo ID Exception Form.
    • If you can truthfully complete the form, you will be able to vote with a provisional ballot and your vote will be counted. You DO NOT need to return to your county board of elections office to “cure” (fix) your ballot. (Just in case, always follow all instructions provided by election workers.)

Voting by mail

  • If you forget to include a copy of your photo ID with your ballot
    • The county board of elections will notify you by mail (and by email if you provided your email address, or by phone if you provided your phone number but no email address).
    • Submit a copy of your ID or your completed Photo ID Exception Form (a copy will be included in the notice you receive by mail) to the county board of elections no later than noon on the fifth business day after Election Day (Tuesday, November 10, at 12 p.m. for the 2026 general election).
    • Your vote will be counted. (Your vote will not be counted if you don’t submit this documentation.)
  • If you don’t have an ID
    • Review the Photo ID Exception Form for Absentee Voting (the yellow sheet in your ballot packet).
    • If you can truthfully complete the form, your ballot will be accepted and your vote will be counted.

Voter ID FAQs

What do I do if I …

Don’t have an ID?

You can get a free ID from your county’s board of elections if you are already registered to vote and have time before election day.

Don’t have an ID? Ask for the Photo ID Exception Form! You will be given a provisional ballot and allowed to vote.

Forgot my ID?

Forgot your ID? Go home and get it if there is still time to vote. Otherwise, vote a provisional ballot and bring the ID to your county board of elections office no later than 12 p.m. on the fifth business day after the election (Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 12 p.m. for the 2026 general election).

Have an ID but my address doesn’t match?
It doesn’t matter! As long as your ID has a photo that identifies you and is from the NCSBE’s approved list, you will be able to vote. The address on your ID does not have to match your voter registration.
Have an out-of-state ID?
If you registered to vote in North Carolina within 90 days of the election, you can use an out-of-state ID.
Have an expired ID?
Over the age of 65? You can use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on your 65th birthday.
Under the age of 65? If your ID has been expired for one year or less, then You Can Vote!
Some forms of ID will be valid regardless of the expiration or issuance date, including military or veterans ID cards, tribal enrollment cards, and ID cards issued by the US government or state of NC for a public assistance program.
Have a student ID?
Bring it with you when you go to vote! The NCSBE has approved a list of 100+ student and employee IDs that can be used for voting.
Have an ID but my photo doesn’t look like me?
If your ID does not look like you (or match how you currently present with regards to gender identity), you may obtain a free voter ID from your county board of elections. No documentation is required to obtain this free voter ID, but you must already be registered to vote in your county. To be issued a free voter photo ID card, the voter must provide their name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number, and have their photo taken.
Lost my ID due to a natural disaster?
If you lost your ID due to Hurricane Helene or another natural disaster that occurred within 100 days of the election, you can vote without ID by requesting and completing the Photo ID Exception Form.
Fill in your name and contact information at the top and then check the box for “EXCEPTION 3: VICTIM OF A NATURAL DISASTER.” Make sure you sign your name at the bottom of the form. You will be given a provisional ballot and allowed to vote.

You Can Vote is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates and mobilizes North Carolinians to take civic action, know their rights, and successfully cast a ballot in each election.

(919) 213-9936
vote@youcanvote.org

PO Box 51941
Durham, NC 27717

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