North Carolina

Yes. Any registered voter will be able to get one of two types of free ID:

1. A free state ID card from the NC DMV
   If you do not have an accepted photo ID, you can get one for free from the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV).
2. Request a voter photo ID card from your County Board of Elections
   To receive a free voter photo ID card, you will need to provide your name, date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number. The voter photo ID card can only be used for voting purposes. It will have an expiration date ten years from the day it is issued. It will count as an accepted form of ID until one year past the expiration date. If you change your name or address, you can request a free replacement voter photo ID card.

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There are three exceptions to the requirement that all North Carolina voters must present an accepted ID to vote in person. If you meet one of these reasons, you will be permitted to complete an ID Exception Form and vote a provisional ballot:

1. Reasonable Impediment: 

If you are unable to get a photo ID due to one of the following reasons you can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and vote a provisional ballot

• Lack of transportation
• Disability or illness
• You don’t have your birth certificate or other documents required to obtain an ID
• Work schedule
• Family responsibilities
• Lost or stolen photo ID
• You applied for photo ID but have not received it yet
• Other: you may write in another reason and the county board of elections will decide whether to accept it

2. Natural Disaster

If you cannot provide a photo ID because you were the victim of a natural disaster within 100 days before Election Day (as declared by the Governor of North Carolina or the President of the United States), you may sign an affidavit and then vote a provisional ballot.

⚠️ Voters in the 25 counties and three tribal areas designate as disaster area after Hurricane Helene can vote using an ID Exception Form and indicate that they do not have an accepted photo ID due to a natural disaster.

3. Religious Objection

If you are unable to get a photo ID because you have a religious objection to being photographed, you may sign an affidavit and then vote a provisional ballot.

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North Carolina voters who do not present an accepted photo ID at the polls have two options:

Complete a Photo ID Exception Form

You can vote without ID if you complete and sign a Photo ID Exception form.

Vote a Provisional Ballot and Return with ID 

Vote a provisional ballot if you cannot present ID or confirm your identity. Provisional ballots make sure eligible voters are not rejected at the polls.

For your provisional ballot to count, you must submit an accepted form of photo ID to your county board of elections office before the county canvass.

For municipal elections in September and October, this deadline is the Monday following Election Day. For all other elections, the deadline is the second Thursday following Election Day.

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North Carolina does not accept mobile or digital ID to vote. You cannot use an image or copy of your ID when you are voting in person.

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Address  

The address on your photo ID does not have to match your address on your voter registration.

Name

The name on your photo ID must be the same as or “substantially equivalent” to the name on your voter registration record. 

Accepted differences between the name on your ID and on your voter registration record include:

• Omission or inclusion of one or more parts of your name (e.g. Mary Beth Smith versus Beth Smith, or Patrick Todd Jackson, Jr. versus Patrick Todd Jackson, or Maria Guzman-Santana versus Maria Guzman)
• Nickname rather than a formal name (e.g. Bill versus William, or Sue versus Susanne)
• An initial in place of one or more parts of a name (e.g. A.B. Sanchez versus Aaron B. Sanchez)
• A former name, including a maiden name (e.g. Emily Jones versus Emily Gibson)
• A variation that includes or omits a hyphen (e.g. Chantell D. Jacobson-Smith versus Chantell D. Jacobson or Chantell D. Jacobson Smith)
• A variation that includes or omits an accent (e.g. José Muñoz versus Jose Munoz)
• A variation that includes or omits an apostrophe (e.g. Andrea D’Antonio versus Andrea Dantonio)
• Different ordering of names (e.g. Maria Eva Garcia Lopez versus Maria E. Lopez-Garcia)
• Variation in spelling (e.g. Dennis McCarthy versus Denis McCarthy, or Aarav Robertson versus Aarav Robertsson)

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You do not need a “REAL ID” to vote in North Carolina.

REAL ID is a set of national security standards for states to follow when they issue driver’s licenses and state ID cards. Your ID will show a star if it meets REAL ID standards. 

Applying for a REAL ID requires you to appear in person with a variety of documents to prove your identity. 

Visit the North Carolina DMV to find out exactly what is required to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID card.

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You can track the status of your absentee ballot and whether it has been received and accepted online.

If there are any problems with your absentee ballot envelope, the county board of elections must inform you and provide you with a form to sign (called a “cure certification”).

You have until 5pm the day before the county canvass to fix any issues and ensure your vote is counted. You can return the cure certification (and if needed a copy of your ID) by email, mail, in person, or by fax.

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