RALEIGH, N.C. — If you want to vote in North Carolina this year, make sure you have a valid photo ID.

What You Need To Know

  • A valid photo ID is required to vote in North Carolina this year

  • Acceptable IDs include driver’s license, state-issued ID, passport, college or school ID, military ID or tribal enrollment card

  • You can get a free photo ID from your county’s Board of Elections

The new requirement has been in effect since last summer, but with an expected record-breaking election year, the boards of elections want to make sure everyone is prepared.

Voter Daniel Powers wants to make sure his vote counts.

“I think it's an extremely important year,” Powers said. “So I want to make sure that I don't lose the right to vote because I don't have the right information.”

Powers doesn’t have a driver’s license, so he needed to get an ID. But he says the process to get one was easy.

“It was just a matter of coming in, confirming some information that they already have in the books, getting in line and just having a photo,” Powers said. “And they print it out right there. So as easy as can be.”

Wake County, like counties across the state, has free photo IDs for those who need them. Although Powers says the process was very simple for him because he knew about it, the challenge this election cycle is making sure more folks know about the requirement. 

Powers is politically involved. He often volunteers at polling places during election season. 

“I'd rather have a system where it's slightly more onerous on the government side just to make sure that they're keeping their own paperwork there,” Powers said.

Election officials remind us there was already a "dress rehearsal" of sorts for voter ID last fall when many municipalities held local elections and required photo ID. 

In Wake County, officials say there weren’t any issues. Elections Director Olivia McCall encourages voters who haven’t participated yet to check their IDs because every vote counts.

“We have very small margins sometimes,” McCall said. “It shows the importance that every vote matters and, you know, making sure that people know the importance of getting their voice heard.”

McCall says her team has been working hard to get information out and prepare voters for the primary and general elections.

“It's just very good to get out there,” Powers said. “And anything we can do to make sure that people know and actually do it is fantastic because everyone should be voting. It's important.”

There is an inclusive list of acceptable IDs on the state board website. It includes driver’s license or state-issued ID, passport, college or school ID, military ID or tribal enrollment card.