Student and Public Employee IDs Approved for Voting

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The student identification cards and employee identification cards in the table below are approved for use as photo identification for voting through December 31, 2024. All approved student and employee ID cards are acceptable statewide for voting.

Once the State Board approves an institution’s photo ID card, older photo IDs for that institution that are still in circulation are valid for voting, so long as the voter’s ID is valid and unexpired. A photo ID card that has no expiration date is not expired.

These IDs are in addition to the types of identification already permitted by state law for use by voters. The most common type of acceptable ID is a North Carolina driver's license, but there are other acceptable types of photo ID, which are listed at Voter ID. Students who have a driver’s license or other type of acceptable ID may use those, or, if their school’s ID is approved, they may use that ID instead. 

In the coming months, the State Board will announce additional ID application periods for the 2024 elections. For more background, visit our press release: State Board Approves Student and Public Employee ID Cards for Use in Upcoming Elections.

Relevant statutes:

• Requirement for photo identification to vote in person. N.C.G.S. § 163-166.16(a)
• Approval of student identification cards for voting identification. N.C.G.S. § 163-166.17(a)
• Approval of employee identification cards for voting identification. N.C.G.S. § 163-166.18(a)