GREENSBORO, N.C. — In only a handful of days, U.S. citizens will cast their ballots for the 2024 presidential election. This year, North Carolina and other states are requiring voters to show identification at the polls.

What You Need To Know

  • You can vote with or without an ID this election, but there are rules that need to be followed

  • Check the North Carolina Board of Elections website for all rules regarding voter IDs

  • If you need a free photo voter I.D., check your County Board of Elections website to see where it can be obtained

  • You must reasonable resemble the person on the photo ID and the name must match registration records

Voters of all ages are adjusting to new voter ID laws this year, including student body leaders at N.C. A&T like Bryan Daye, the Voter Registration Chair for N.C. A&T Civic Engagement Coalition. 

“[We] hit up the students as soon as they hit campus to get them registered but also to move them to the next step of getting educated, and hopefully they execute and submit their ballot to vote this upcoming election,” Daye said. 

Daye has registered around 1,500 students to vote and with other student leaders are teaching new voters voting practices to help limit anxiety. School groups at N.C. A&T have created Poll Pals, matching students with peers who are knowledgeable and can help limit stress when voting. 

Voter ID laws are a new form of anxiety this year at the polls for new or old voters with new and possibly confusing rules to follow. 

“There's going to be a lot of different individualized circumstances when it comes to the voter IDs,” said Donovan E.C. Bethea, the N.C. A&T LEADS Program President. 

All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID, but it is important to note when exceptions are made. 

In general, in-person voters must show an acceptable photo ID when checking in at a voting site during early voting or on Election Day. 

A vast majority of North Carolinians will show their driver’s license, but there are also other forms of acceptable photo IDs, including: 

  • A state I.D. from the NC DMV
  • A driver’s license or nondriver’s license from another state
  • U.S. passport or card
  • A free North Carolina Voter Photo ID provided from a County Board of Elections
  • A student ID approved by the State Board of Elections
  • A state or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections 

To see a full list of accepted photo IDs, visit the North Carolina Board of Elections Website.

“We are going to continue to create a big push to educate students on what counts as voter ID laws so that they are in the know,” said Olu Rouse, voter protection and access lead for N.C. A&T Civic Engagement Coalition. 

Expect that the person checking you in will look to see if you reasonably resemble the photo ID and the name on the ID is similar to voter registration records. 

“It's super important just to make sure we all understand so that we're able to show up to the best of our ability. But also make sure you're asking questions if you truly don't understand,” Bethea said. 

If you do not have an acceptable ID, you can complete an ID Exception Form and vote with a provisional ballot. This vote would count if your ID is lost or stolen, you have a lock of transportation to get an ID, applied for a photo ID and have yet to receive it, present a disability or illness or it is against religious belief to be photographed. 

There is one more exception that will be very crucial for the western half of the state this year. If you are a victim of a natural disaster within 100 days before Election Day, you can complete an Exception Form if your ID has been misplaced. 

Voters of 65 years or older may use an expired ID if it was unexpired at their 65th birthday. Military or veteran IDs and tribal enrollment cards with photos are also accepted. 

Absentee ballot voters must either attach a photocopy of an acceptable ID or fill out an ID exception form. 

For more information on Voter ID laws and your Counties Board of Election, visit their website.