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Identification Requirements in the United States

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Identification Requirements in the United States

This note sets out the identification (ID) requirements for registered electors who wish to vote using a regular ballot on election day in the United States. For each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.), it identifies–through a review of their website and legislation–whether proof of ID is required, and, if so, whether electors need to prove their identity or both their identity and address. The note also looks at where the equivalent of the Voter Information Card (VIC) is accepted as a valid proof of identity.

Key findings

  • Almost half (23) of the states do not require voters to provide proof of identification to vote in person with a regular ballot on polling day.
  • Twenty-five states require voters to show documents proving their identity in order to vote. Among these states, most (18) require a photo ID, while the rest (7) also accept proof without a photo. Only Delaware accepts the equivalent of the Voter Information Card (VIC) as a proof of identity.
  • Of all the 51 states (including D.C.) only three require documents proving both identity and address (Arizona, North Dakota, and Ohio). In all three cases, it is possible for the voter to present a piece of ID without photo as proof of identification. None of these states accepts the equivalent of the VIC as a proof of ID; and its use is explicitly prohibited in Ohio.
Table 1. ID requirements for registeredfootnote 1 U.S. electors when voting in-person at the polling station on election day
Jurisdiction No ID required ID requirement Equivalent of the VIC accepted as proof of ID
Proof of identity Proof of identity and address
Photo ID only ID with or without photo Photo ID only ID with or without photo
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansasfootnote 2
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware Yes
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolinafootnote 2
North Dakota
Ohio No
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvaniafootnote 2
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Total 23 18 7 0 3 1

Footnote 1 All voters must be registered to vote in the United States. Voters must provide proof of identity and residence when they register.

Footnote 2 About 20 US states have developed photo ID laws requiring voters to show a piece of identification with a photo in order to obtain a ballot at the polling station. These laws have been struck down by the courts in at least three states: Arkansas, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Exceptions and specific situations

  • In most states that do not require identification documents to vote, there are exceptions. For example, voters who are voting for the first time or those who have registered by mail without proof of identity may be asked to show ID to get a regular ballot.
  • In some states requiring identification documents, voters who cannot comply can still vote with a regular ballot if they sign an affidavit.
  • Among the several states that have a law on photo ID, there are exceptions allowing voters to avoid the photo requirement due, for example, to illness or religious reasons.