Preparing to Vote with Voter ID in 2023

Get the facts about voter ID and get ready to vote in this fall’s local elections.

Read on to boost your voter ID knowledge and help us work against the spread of misinformation.

What We DO Know About Voter ID (As of August 3, 2023):

  • If you have an ID, bring it with you when you go to vote. If you don’t have an ID, ask for the Photo ID Exception Form when you go to the polls.

  • According to the NCSBE, “County boards of elections must count provisional ballots with properly completed ID Exception Forms.” When filling out the Photo ID Exception Form, be sure to fill out your name and contact info at the top and include your signature at the bottom. Then select one of the approved exceptions to explain why you cannot show a photo ID.

    The approved exceptions are:

    1. The voter has a “reasonable impediment” to showing photo ID (select one or more of the following):

    - Lack of transportation

    - Disability or illness

    - Lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to obtain ID

    - Work schedule

    - Family responsibilities

    - Lost or stolen photo ID

    - Photo ID applied for but not yet received

    - (For mail voters only) Unable to attach a copy of photo ID

    - Other reasonable impediment (if selected, the voter must write the reason on the form)

    - The voter is prohibited by state or federal law from listing their reason

    2. The voter has a religious objection to being photographed

    3. The voter was a victim of a natural disaster within 100 days before Election Day

What We Don’t Know About Voter ID (As of August 3, 2023):

  • Poll worker training for the 2023 local elections has not yet begun and training materials have not been released. We will keep an eye on this space and update you as we learn more.

  • While the NC Supreme Court’s decision to overturn their prior ruling required that the state’s voter ID law be implemented immediately, no plans had been made and no additional funding was made available for voter ID education and implementation. The NCSBE has requested additional funding from the state to support voter education in 2023-2024 but this request has not been fulfilled by the NC General Assembly. For this reason, our work at You Can Vote is more important than ever before.

What to do if you….

  • Ask for the Photo ID Exception Form! You will be given a provisional ballot and allowed to vote.

  • Either go home and get your ID OR fill out a provisional ballot. Click here to learn more from the NCSBE.

  • 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.

  • If you registered to vote in North Carolina within 90 days of the election, you can use an out-of-state 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. Click here to learn more from the NCSBE.

  • 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.

  • Accepted IDs for voting in 2023:

    • NC Drivers License

    • NC Non-driver ID

    • US Passport

    • US Military or Veteran ID

    • Tribal ID

    • NC Student ID*

    • NC Government Employee ID*

    • FREE ID from County Board of Elections

    • Out-of-State Drivers License (only if you registered to vote in NC within 90 days of the election)

    *Some restrictions apply. Click here to see the full list of student and employee IDs approved for voting in 2023.

    Note: The address on your ID DOES NOT have to match your voter registration!

Want to get involved and help voters learn about these new rules?

Get trained as a YCV Volunteer and help us spread the word that You Can Vote With or Without ID! We need to talk to every eligible voter to make sure they know when their next election is, where to vote, what’s on their ballot, and what to bring with them when they go to the polls.

Already trained? Get out in your community to educate and register voters at an upcoming YCV event! The best thing you can do to ensure turnout is make sure that voters are registered at their current address and know about upcoming elections. We will also hold a Voter ID Booster Training for current volunteers later this summer to get everyone up to speed on these new rules (date TBD).

Do you represent a college, university, business, or organization? Spread the word! We have a list of ID Communication Pro-Tips that you can use as a guide when you share this information with students, colleagues, or constituents. You can also Request a Voting Educator from YCV to speak to your organization.

Amy Campbell Bogie