Raleigh -- March 14, 2019 North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed Bill 214: Ensure 2019 Orderly Elections into law.
Read New Law
Answers to Questions on NC Voter
Do I need an ID to vote?
Most likely not until 2020.
In March 2019, lawmakers passed SENATE BILL 214, which would effectively delay implementation of the Voter ID law until 2020, which the governor has now signed. Under SB214, voters won’t have to show approved photo IDs for any elections in 2019, including municipal and special elections.
The new ID law for 2020 would “require” voters to show an acceptable photo ID – but also has exceptions so people can vote in person without one.
ACCEPTABLE IDs. The law says voters should show one of these photo IDs when they vote in person; the ID can be expired for up to one year:
NC driver’s license;
Photo ID from your county board of elections; it will be free to registered voters who give last 4 digits of their Social Security # and birthdate (there may be other requirements, as well); and is good for 10 years;
Non-driver’s ID from NC DMV; it’s free to citizens who show a birth certificate and other documents;
US passport;
Enrollment card from a US or NC recognized tribe;
Student ID from a NC private or public college or community college that follows strict procedures for issuing ID cards, under State Board of Election rules; after 2020, the card must have an expiration date;
NC state or local government employee ID card issued under strict procedures; cards issued after the 2020 election must have an expiration date;
US military or veterans card, even if it does not have an expiration date;
Driver’s license from another state, but only good for 90 days after the person registers to vote in NC.
OTHER FEATURES
If you have an acceptable, unexpired ID at age 65, it’s good for life– its expiration no longer matters.
The address on your ID does not matter; the law says ID is only used to prove who you are, not where you live.
Mail-in absentee voters must send a copy of an identity document with their ballot request or with the returned ballot; rules will clarify how this works.
EXCEPTIONS IF YOU HAVE NO ID AT THE POLLS
You can vote a provisional ballot, but then you must take an acceptable ID to your county elections board by the day before election results are certified (canvass day);
You can vote a provisional ballot and not show any ID at the polls IF:
you have a religious objection to being photographed and sign an affidavit affirming your identity;
you live in an area with a natural disaster declared by the president or governor within 100 days of Election Day and you sign an identity affidavit;
you sign an identity affidavit and give a reason for not having an acceptable ID. The form for stating a “reasonable impediment” includes such reasons as lack of transportation, disability or illness, work schedule, ID lost or stolen, and “other” with a blank line to fill in. Rules must clarify what’s an acceptable reason.