IDs that work
- NC driver's license
- NC DMV ID card (non-driver ID)
- U.S. passport or passport card
- NC voter photo ID card from your county board of elections
- A student or employee ID on the State Board's approved list
- Out-of-state driver's license or ID, but only if you registered in NC within 90 days of the election
- Military or veterans ID, or a tribal enrollment card
Most of these count up to a year past their expiration date. Military, veterans and tribal IDs count at any expiration date.
Full list (NCSBE) ↗Student IDs
These Triangle schools' IDs are on the State Board's approved list, valid through Dec. 31, 2026:
- Duke: Student Voter ID Card or DukeCard
- Durham Tech: student ID
- Meredith: student ID
- NC State: student or employee ID
- NCCU: student or employee ID
- Saint Augustine's: student ID
- Shaw: student ID
- UNC-Chapel Hill: student or employee ID, physical card only (per NCSBE's list)
- Wake Tech: student ID
At another school? Check the full list, or use another ID above.
Approved student and employee IDs (NCSBE) ↗Left it at home?
Go get it and come back to vote a regular ballot. Or vote a provisional ballot and bring your ID to your county elections office by noon on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
No ID you can show?
You can vote a provisional ballot and fill out a Photo ID Exception Form at the voting site. NCSBE lists the reasons that qualify, like a lost or stolen ID, an ID you applied for but haven't received, or not being able to get one because of transportation, work or school schedule.
Falsely completing a Photo ID Exception Form is a felony under North Carolina law.
Your county board of elections gives registered voters a free photo ID through the end of early voting (3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31). Any NC resident can also get a free non-driver ID from the NC DMV.
Can I use my phone in the booth?
Yes, to look up candidate information. Not to communicate with anyone or to photograph your voted ballot.
That includes your matches on WhoYouGot.
NCSBE, Oct. 9 ↗Know who you're voting for?
Swipe the issues, see who's on your ballot. About 3 minutes.
Start swiping →Checked against ncsbe.gov on Oct. 11, 2026. Voting by mail has its own ID rules: see NCSBE ↗