Public Comment Portal: Permanent Photo ID Rules
Comment on Proposed Rules Regarding Photo ID Implementation
The State Board of Elections invites the public to comment on two permanent rules proposed to implement the photo ID requirement for in-person and absentee-by-mail voters in North Carolina. These rules are necessary to ensure uniform implementation of the photo ID requirement by all 100 county boards of elections and in all 3,000-plus polling locations.
To avoid any misunderstanding about what rules should be followed by election officials and the public, the Board also proposes to repeal previous photo ID rules adopted under a different law that is now obsolete.
The public comment period opens Nov. 15, 2023, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2024. Submitted comments will be compiled and submitted to the State Board before its final consideration of the proposed rules.
Text of the proposed rules are available at the two links below:
- Verification of Photo Identification During In-Person Voting: 08 NCAC 17 .0101 (PDF) describes how election officials must determine whether the photograph on the ID reasonably resembles the voter and whether the name is the same as or substantially equivalent to the voter’s name in their registration record. It also addresses voting options for voters who are unable to present photo ID.
- Photo Identification for Absentee-By-Mail Ballots: 08 NCAC 17 .0109 (PDF) provides details about the requirement for absentee-by-mail voters to provide a copy of an acceptable photo ID with their ballot return envelope, or complete a photo ID exception form. It also describes the process county boards of elections must take in reviewing copies of IDs or exception forms returned with absentee ballots.
The State Board also proposes the permanent repeal of four existing rules: View the text of the four rules proposed for permanent repeal (PDF).
The public comment period will close at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2024. Submitted comments will be compiled and provided to the State Board before its final consideration of the proposed rules.
For more information about the rulemaking process, please visit Rulemaking.