Yes, you need a photo ID to vote in North Carolina. No, it doesn't have to be a driver's license. Here are 7 good options. (Shutterstock)
Yes, you need a photo ID to vote in North Carolina. No, it doesn’t have to be a driver’s license or passport—and it’s easier than you might think to have your vote counted.
This year, photo ID requirements in North Carolina are in place for the first time during a presidential election.
It is, in effect, the first big test for a law that state Republicans in the legislature passed because they were worried about the “integrity” of our elections.
Make no mistake, it’s still easy to vote. But North Carolinians now have one more important thing to think about when they head to the polls: remembering to bring a photo ID.
RELATED: Bookmark this 2024 North Carolina Voting Guide from Cardinal & Pine
Most people are going to show their driver’s license. That license must be unexpired or expired for a year or less.
But lots of folks don’t have a driver’s license. If that’s you, don’t freak out. There are plenty of good photo ID options that will still work for you.
As with the driver’s license, most of them have to be unexpired, or expired for just a year or less.
Let’s break down your seven options:
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Get a free photo ID from your county elections office
By far, this is the best option if you don’t have a driver’s license. This is easy, and, better yet, free.
Your local county Board of Elections, which is a nonpartisan office, can get you a free photo ID quickly. Simply find your county elections office here. Then stop in during business hours and request a free photo ID.
You’ll need to give them your name, birthdate, and the last four digits of your Social Security number, but no documentation is necessary.
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Get a free non-operator’s license from the NC Department of Motor Vehicles
Yeah, nobody likes going to a DMV. It’s sort of like flicking yourself in the eye, but if the DMV can help you get your vote counted in one of the most consequential elections of this or any generation, it seems a small price to pay.
If you don’t have a driver’s license, the DMV can still get you an election-approved photo ID, which they call a non-operator’s ID. (Note: It can’t be used as a license to drive a vehicle.)
It’s a little more effort to get a free ID from the DMV than it is to get one from your county elections office, but it’s doable.
Here’s what you do: Find your local DMV. Request a non-operator’s ID. You’ll have to provide a document verifying your name and age, a document that verifies you have a Social Security number, and a document proving you live in the US.
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US Passport
Getting a passport is its own rigamarole, but if you have one already, you can use the official ID to vote in North Carolina.
You can get a passport through the Department of State or FedEx, but keep in mind that completing the paperwork and getting your printed passport can take weeks to complete. This is not a great option if you’re under a time crunch—but if you don’t have a driver’s license and you do have a passport, you’re good to go.
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College or university student ID approved by state elections officials
If you’re a college student or university faculty member in North Carolina, you have options. First, make sure you’re registered to vote. You can register where you live, whether that’s a full-time residence or where you’re living on campus.
Of course, if you’re not registered, keep in mind that early voting allows you to register and vote in the same day. You can’t do that on Election Day—another reason that early voting is one of the coolest things since cell phones.
Now, check up on your photo ID. If you don’t have a driver’s license, the photo ID you got from your university could suffice, provided it has been approved by the State Board of Elections. Find a comprehensive list of schools with approved IDs here.
If you’re a student at North Carolina’s flagship university, UNC-Chapel Hill, you can—for now— use the digital photo ID you got from the school, or your Mobile One Card. Keep an eye on this though. Republicans filed a lawsuit to block students from using these, but a judge in Wake County rejected their argument last week.
It’s not clear whether Republicans will appeal that decision to a higher court, so stay tuned.
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State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by state
Just like college students, if you’re a state or local government or charter school employee, your workplace photo ID might be cleared for you to use at the polls.
Check the list of approved IDs here.
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Military or veterans ID with photo
North Carolina has one of the largest military populations in the country, so this provision in the state law makes a lot of sense.
If you have a photo ID identifying you as a member of the armed forces or a veteran, you can use it at the polls.
Added perk: Unlike most of the other IDs on this list, it doesn’t matter whether the ID is expired or not.
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Tribal enrollment card with photo
Just like a military ID, it doesn’t matter if this one is expired or not.
The state and federal government recognizes numerous tribes in North Carolina, and their tribal photo IDs are cleared for voting purposes.
Find out if your tribe’s ID is approved by going here.
What to do if you don’t bring your photo ID
Here’s another important point: Even if you don’t show up to the polls with a valid photo ID, there’s still a chance you could be allowed to vote.
You’d have to fill out an ID exception form—this is a legal document proving that you have a “reasonable impediment” to showing a photo ID. State law allows for some reasons, such as a lack of transportation, a disability or illness, a lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to get an ID, a stolen or lost ID, your work or family schedule, and other reasons.
Check out all the possible reasons for an ID exception here.
Or you could fill out a provisional ballot at the polls, and go back to your county Board of Elections office with a valid ID before canvassing. Canvassing is the official authentication of election results, and it happens on the second Thursday following Election Day. This year, that’s Nov. 14.
One more thing for absentee voters
If you’re voting by mail, otherwise known as absentee voting, remember that you too have to show a valid photo ID.
You do this by including a photocopy of your ID with your ballot, or filling out an ID exception form.
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