RALEIGH – Registered voters who do not have an acceptable identification card for voting in North Carolina can now go to their county board of elections office to get a free ID.
Most voters have a North Carolina driver’s license, which is an acceptable form of photo ID for voting. Those voters do not need to obtain a separate ID from their county board. Other common forms of acceptable ID include military or veterans ID cards issued by the federal government, and college student and public employer ID cards that the State Board approved for use in voting. For a full list of acceptable forms of photo ID for voting, see the State Board’s website at Voter ID.
Registered voters who do not have an acceptable form of identification for voting purposes can now get a free photo ID from their county board of elections office. No special documents are needed. Voters will simply provide their name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number, and have their photo taken.
In most counties, voters will be able to get an ID printed and given to them on the spot. A few counties may need to get the required information from the voter, take their photo, then mail the ID card to the voter or inform the voter that the ID card is ready to be picked up, whichever the voter prefers. Voters with questions about the ID process should contact their county board of elections.
A free voter photo ID will include the voter’s photo, name, and registration number. They will expire 10 years from the date of issuance. The county boards of elections can issue cards at any time during regular business hours, except for the period following the last day of early voting through Election Day.
“Any voter who does not have an acceptable ID card for voting can now get a free ID from their county board of elections,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “State Board staff has worked diligently with the county boards of elections over the past couple of months to get the necessary software and hardware in place for ID printing.” Find more information under “No-Fee ID Cards” at State IDs | NCDMV.
Background on the Voter Photo ID Requirement
Voters will be asked to show photo ID when voting in North Carolina, starting with the municipal elections this fall.
All voters will be able to vote with or without an ID. If a voter casting a ballot at the voting site does not provide an acceptable ID, the voter may fill out a Photo ID Exception Form and vote a provisional ballot, or vote a provisional ballot and bring an acceptable ID to the county board of elections office by the day before the county canvass (which is typically 10 days after elections in even-numbered years and seven days after elections in odd-numbered years).
Voters who vote by mail will be asked to include a photocopy of an ID with their ballot, or complete a Photo ID Exception Form for Absentee Voting. The photocopy will be mailed in a special envelope to protect the voter’s personal information on their ID.
For more information on the photo ID requirement, see Voter ID.
Or, you can apparently just say “I didn’t know an ID was required” and still vote anyway. The will of the people has again been circumvented.
And in a deceptive way when you look at what the SBE did to get that line added.
The “will of the people,” you’re joking right?!?! With voter turnout hovering around the 50% rate, I’d say that the will of the people is clear — they essentially don’t care. What we REALLY need is an intelligence test — too many citizens have no idea what they’re voting on, or worse, they vote against their own interests! #VoteOutIncumbents
We voted for Voter ID…the majority, in democratic fashion. So unless you’ve got a problem with Democracy, then you’ve really got no position.
@Brett: I don’t think you understand the meaning of the word “majority.” 2,028,721 voted for the amendment, out of 7,104,309 registered voters. This is only ~29%.
@Brett, how can you circumvent a stupid law? The law clearly states that you can walk in and claim religious beliefs and don’t need to show a picture ID because you don’t want your picture taken. It’s in the voting law but you can’t claim religious beliefs for a driver’s license picture. Could the GA be pandering to the Religious Right? Remember that the NC GOP are the only ones cought with their hands in the voter fraud cookie jar.
#Hypocrites
The “Religious Right” already have IDs and don’t care if we get our pictures taken. It’s a farce, all the exceptions are in contradiction to the law WE VOTED ON.
everyone has to have an ID. even to get SS benefits you have to show an ID…what’s the big deal….only reason I can see for not showing an ID is to cheat…so now you can get a FREE ID…so there should be NO excuse for not having one….
If “free” is in the sentence, some will be there in droves.
Please explain Joe. Who is some?
Umm ……those who don’t want to pay for anything. Who else?Duh.
Well if you’re going to require everyone to show an ID to vote then you best make the ID free as to avoid any perceived disenfranchisement. Honestly all US citizens should be automatically registered to vote at 18. No more having to register.
So will the government provide my led light bulbs for free?
Free is one thing, but how do they check for citizenship?? Voter eligibility? That’s the whole premise behind the ID. Who’s idea is this??
White Republicans on here crying about people being able to vote. Fact of the matter is when more eligible voters go vote then Republicans lose. That is why Republicans are dead set on making sure less people vote, not more.
It must be so hard to get a free ID card. What terrible voter suppression! Who could possibly expect people to obtain a free ID?
Dang White Republicans always trying to disenfranchise voters. Just terrible.