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Voter ID

Every NC voter can vote with or without photo ID!

GET A FREE VOTER ID
On this page
  • You can vote with or without photo ID!
  • Accepted photo IDs
  • Voter ID FAQs

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


Accepted photo IDs

Voter ID is about the face, not the place! The addresses on your photo ID and your voter registration do not have to match.

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

  • 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

    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.

  • Tribal ID

  • ID card from US or NC government public assistance program


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 on election day? 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 the county board of elections office by the day before the county Day of Canvass (which occurs 10 days after the 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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Need to Repair Your Registration?

A small number of voters are being asked by the N.C. State Board of Elections (NCSBE) to repair their registrations by providing their N.C. driver’s license/DMV ID number OR the last four digits of their Social Security number. They have launched a new search tool to find out if you are on the list and need to take action.

Repairing your registration will ensure that you can vote a regular ballot rather than a provisional ballot during upcoming elections. Click below to access the search tool and learn more from the NCSBE.

Learn More
Search You Can Vote