Voter Photo ID Application Period Ends Friday | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, N.C.     Reminder to educational institutions and government agencies in North Carolina: The deadline to apply to have your student and employee photo IDs approved for voting purposes in 2024 elections is this Friday, December 15.

    Student identification cards issued by North Carolina public or private universities and colleges, as well as employee identification cards issued by state and local government entities and charter schools, are valid forms of photo ID for voting when approved by the State Board.

    "We encourage all eligible educational institutions and government employers to apply for their IDs to be approved for voting. Getting their IDs approved will help ensure their students and employees are best equipped to participate in our state's elections," said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections.

    Entities that already had their IDs approved in 2023 do not need to reapply.

    How to Apply

    To request approval for use in the 2024 primary and general elections, an institution must provide a signed Student or Employee Identification Approval Request Form and a digital image of the ID card to the State Board on or before Dec. 15, 2023.

    All colleges and universities, whether public or private, may seek approval of their student ID cards. Public colleges and universities may also seek approval of their employee ID cards, but they must submit separate approval forms for each type of ID. See request forms and instructions:

• November 2023 Student ID Approval Request Form (fillable PDF)
• November 2023 Student ID Instructions (PDF)
• November 2023 Employee ID Approval Request Form (fillable PDF)
• November 2023 Employee ID Instructions (PDF)

    The State Board of Elections will review submissions to ensure they comply with criteria in state law. It will publish a list of newly approved ID cards by early 2024.

    Cards approved in this round will remain valid for use as a voter's photo ID through Dec. 31, 2024.

    Educational institutions and government agencies with questions about the process should email VoterID@ncsbe.gov or call (919) 814-0700.

    Voter Photo ID Background

    Voters in North Carolina now will be asked to present photo identification to vote. Most voters will simply show their driver's license. But there are many other acceptable photo IDs.

    For more information on the photo ID requirement, including the current list of acceptable IDs, see Voter ID.

    Voters who do not have an acceptable form of ID can get one for free from their county board of elections. Learn more at Get a Free Voter Photo ID.

    Voters can also get a free ID card from the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). Find more information under "No-Fee ID Cards" at State IDs | NCDMV.


   Contact: Patrick Gannon
   Public Information Director
   Email: patrick.gannon@ncsbe.gov