Photo IDs
Unexpired or expired for one year or less:
NC Driver’s License
US Passport
NC DMV State ID (“non-operator ID”)
NC Voter Photo ID (from County Board of Elections)
College/University Student ID (approved by State Board of Elections)
Charter School Employee ID (approved by State Board of Elections)
State/Local Government Employee ID (approved by State Board of Elections)
Driver’s License/Non-Driver ID from another state, DC, or US territory (BUT only if registered within 90 days of election)
Regardless of whether ID contains expiration or issuance date:
Military or veteran ID card (issued by US government)
Tribal enrollment card (issued by state or federally recognized tribe)
ID card issued by US government agency or State of NC for a public assistance program
Click here (or see photo ID infographic) for how get a free photo ID for purposes of voting by going to your local County Board of Elections office (County Board of Elections Offices Lookup or List of County Boards of Elections (pages 3-4 of Absentee Ballot Application)).
Photo ID Exceptions
** Photo ID Exception Form
For all voters (In-Person and By-Mail (Absentee) Voters), if unable to show or include photo ID, voter may qualify to use ID Exception Form (to be presented when voting in person or included in envelope if voting by mail).
Permitted reasons to be excepted from photo ID requirement:
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
(For Mail Voters Only) Unable to attach a copy of photo ID (must include driver’s license number or last four digits of Social Security number)
Other reasonable impediment (if selected, the voter must write the reason on the form)
State or federal law prohibits voter from listing the reason
Voter has a religious objection to being photographed.
Voter was victim of natural disaster within 100 days before Election Day (disaster declaration by Presid
If in-person voter does not have qualified photo ID and does not qualify for an exemption, voter should vote a provisional ballot. Note that voter will have to present a valid photo ID after the election. See Provisional Ballots footnote, below.
provisional Ballots
Provisional ballots are used to ensure that no voter is denied the opportunity to vote. The voted provisional ballot is held aside until voter proves eligibility to vote. You may be asked to vote a provisional ballot or request to vote provisionally if there are questions about:
Voter’s qualification to vote,
Voter’s eligibility to vote in a given election,
Voter’s eligibility to vote a specific ballot style, or
Voter does not present photo ID.
Deadline to “cure” ballot (prove eligibility, such as showing valid photo ID) is Thursday November 14.
Once you vote your provisional ballot you will receive a PIN number in order to check the status of your ballot. You can begin checking the status of your provisional ballot online or via phone ((919) 814-0700 or (866) 522-4723) 10 days after the election, Friday November 15.
Absentee Ballots
If voter is using the paper application to vote absentee and is not yet registered to vote in NC, voter should submit their voter registration form with application for absentee ballot.
There is NO LONGER A GRACE PERIOD for submitting ballots. Ballots must be RECEIVED, not postmarked, by Election Day at 7:30pm whether by mail or in person.
If you decide to vote in person instead of absentee, you may vote in person during Early Voting or on Election Day INSTEAD of voting absentee, just discard your absentee ballot. Voter may not return absentee ballot to polling place.
Also note that only you or your near relative or legal guardian may mail or hand-deliver your absentee ballot. Do not give your balloting materials to a neighbor, friend, or stranger. (Near relative includes spouse, brother, sister, parent, child, stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, stepparent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, or son-in-law.)