What to know about voter ID requirements North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — During early voting and on Election Day, voters in North Carolina will be expected to provide photo ID before they cast a ballot.

Although the ID law has been in effect since 2023, many voters will experience it for first time this year because of the major elections taking place, including the presidential and governor’s races.

In-person voters are expected to show an acceptable photo ID when they check-in at a voting site during early voting or on Election Day. Those voting by mail are expected to include a photocopy of acceptable photo ID.

What photo IDs are acceptable for voting?

The state will accept any of the following photo IDs if they are unexpired or expired for one year or less:

• North Carolina driver’s license
• State ID/non-operator ID issued by the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles
• Driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state, Washington, D.C., or a U.S. territory if the voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election
• U.S. passport/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 North Carolina Board of Elections
• State, local government, or charter school employee ID approved by the North Carolina Board of Elections

Student and employee IDs approved for voting include:

• Duke University student voter ID card
• Duke University student ID (Duke card)
• Fayetteville State University student and employee ID
• Meredith College student ID
• Methodist University student ID
• North Carolina Central University student and employee ID
• North Carolina State University student and employee ID
• Saint Augustine’s University student ID
• Shaw University student ID
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student and employee ID (physical ID only)
• Wake Technical Community College student ID

These are just a few of the major area schools on the list. See the full list of acceptable student and employee IDs here.

Voters 65 years or older may use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday. The address on the photo ID does not have to match the voter registration records.

The state will also accept any of the following photo IDs, regardless of whether they have expiration or issuance date:

• Military or veterans ID card with photo issued by the U.S. government
• Tribal enrollment card with photo issued by a tribe recognized by North Carolina or the U.S. government
• ID card with a photo issued by an agency recognized by North Carolina or the U.S. government for a public assistance program

Although public assistance program IDs are acceptable under North Carolina law, state officials say they are not aware of any that contain a photo, which is required to cast a ballot.

What if I don’t have an acceptable form of photo ID?

Voters who do not have an acceptable photo ID may get one from their county board of elections.

To obtain a free voter photo ID, voters will locate their county board of elections, visit their county board of elections during business hours, and provide their information to have their photo taken. More information about the process can be found here.

Voters may also get a free photo ID from the NCDMV if they are one of the following: at least 17 years old, legally blind, homeless, or had a license that was canceled because of a disability or disease. More information about the NCDMV process can be found here.

Those unable to provide an acceptable photo ID when they vote in-person or by mail are expected to fill out an ID exception form.

What are the permitted photo ID exceptions?

Voters may be exempt from providing acceptable photo ID if they have a “reasonable impediment” preventing them from showing it. The following reasons are permitted by the state:

• Lack of transportation
• Disability or illness
• Lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to obtain ID
• Work or school schedule
• Family responsibilities
• Photo ID is lost, stolen, or misplaced
• Applied for photo ID, but have not received it
• Unable to attach a copy of photo ID if voting by mail (the voter must include driver’s license number or last four digits of Social Security number)
• Other reason impediment that must be written on the form
• State or federal law prohibits the voter from listing the reason

The state also permits the following exceptions to providing acceptable photo ID:

• The voter has a religious objection to being photographed
• The voter was a victim of a natural disaster within 100 days before Election Day that resulted in a disaster declaration by the president of the United States or the governor of North Carolina

Voters unable to provide an acceptable photo ID will select one of the reasons above when filling out the ID exception form.

In-person voters who complete the ID exception form will cast a provisional ballot.

In-person voters who do not complete the ID exception form may also cast a provisional ballot, but must return to their county board of elections office with acceptable photo ID for their vote to be counted. The deadline to provide acceptable photo ID is the second Thursday after Election Day, which this year is Nov. 21.