Voter Photo ID-NCSBE from Board of Elections on Vimeo.

Updated August 11, 2023

Voters will be asked to show photo ID when voting in North Carolina.

For most voters, they will simply show their driver’s license. But there are other acceptable photo IDs, including

any of the following that is unexpired, or expired for one year or less:

• North Carolina driver’s license

• State ID from the NCDMV (also called “non-operator ID”)

• 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)

• U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport card

• North Carolina voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections

• College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections

• State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections

• Acceptable student and local government IDs
  

Note: A voter 65 or older may use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday.

Any of the following, regardless of whether the ID contains an expiration or issuance date:

• Military or veterans ID card issued by the U.S. government

• Tribal enrollment card issued by a tribe recognized by state or federal government

• ID card issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the State of North Carolina for a public assistance program

If a voter does not have an acceptable photo ID, they can get one for free from the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). Find more information under “No-Fee ID Cards” on the NCDMV site. Voters can also get free ID from their county board of elections.

All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID. 

If a voter cannot show photo ID when voting in person, they can still vote by filling out an ID Exception Form. For absentee-by-mail voters, if they are unable to include a copy of their photo ID in their ballot return envelope, they can also fill out an ID Exception Form with their ballot. Find more information under ID Exceptions on the State Board of Elections site. 

Remember:

• You can always vote, with or without an acceptable ID using the Photo ID Exception Form. 

• Your address on your ID does NOT need to match your voter registration

• An out-of-state ID can be used if you registered to vote within 90 days of the election.

• You can use an expired ID if you are over 65 years old and anyone can use an expired ID if it expired less than one year before the election. Some forms of ID are acceptable regardless of expiration date (see above).