Voter Identification Requirements

Contents

• State Requirements for Voter ID
• 2012 Legislative Action
• 2011 Legislative Action
• Legislative Action, 2003-2010 
• Recent Litigation 
• Details of Voter ID Requirements 
• For More Information 

PLEASE NOTE:  IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SEE THE INTERACTIVE MAP, PLEASE REFER TO THE DETAILED TABLE BELOW.

Table 1. State Requirements for Voter Identification

States that Request or Require Photo ID

States that Require ID (Photo Not Required)

Strict Photo ID

Georgia

Indiana

Kansas

Mississippi (6)

South Carolina (1)

Tennessee

Texas (1)

Wisconsin (2)

Photo ID

Alabama (1), (5)

Florida

Hawaii

Idaho

Louisiana

Michigan

South Dakota

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Kentucky

Missouri

Montana

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma (3)

Rhode Island (4)

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Existing Law:

Each elector shall provide identification to an appropriate election official prior to voting.

New Law:

Each elector shall provide valid photo identification to an appropriate election official prior to voting.

Existing Law:

• Government-issued photo ID
• U.S. passport
• U.S. military ID
• Employee ID card with photo
• Alabama college/university ID with photo
• Alabama hunting or fishing license
• Alabama gun permit
• FAA-issued pilot's license
• Birth certificate (certified copy)
• Social security card
• Naturalization document
• Court record of adoption or name change
• Medicaid or Medicare card
• Electronic benefits transfer card
• Utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document showing name and address of voter

• Valid Alabama driver's license or non-driver ID card
• Valid photo voter ID card or other valid ID card issued by any state or the federal government , as long as it contains a photo
• Valid U.S. passport
• Valid government employee ID card with a photo
• Valid student or employee ID card issued by a college or university in the state, provided it includes a photo
• Valid U.S. military ID card containing a photo
• Valid tribal ID card containing a photo

Existing Law:

Vote a challenged or provisional ballot or vote, if s/he is identified by two poll workers as an eligible a voter on the poll list, and both poll workers sign the voting sign-in register by the voter’s name.

New Law:

Vote a provisional ballot or vote a regular ballot if s/he is identified by two election officials as an eligible voter on the poll list, and both election workers sign a sworn affidavit so stating.

Before being allowed to vote, each voter shall exhibit to an election official one form of identification.

• Official voter registration card
• Driver's license
• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Hunting or fishing license
• Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document with the voter’s name and address

An election official may waive the identification requirement if the election official knows the identity of the voter. A voter who cannot exhibit a required form of identification shall be allowed to vote a questioned ballot.

Every qualified elector shall present one form of identification that bears the name, address and photograph of the elector or two different forms of identification that bear the name and address of the elector. 

• Valid Arizona driver's license
• Valid Arizona non-driver identification
• Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification
• Valid U.S. federal, state or local government issued identification
• Utility bill dated within 90 days of the election
• Bank or credit union statement dated within 90 days of the election
• Valid Arizona vehicle registration
• Indian census card
• Property tax statement
• Vehicle insurance card
• Recorder’s Certificate

An elector who does not provide the required identification shall receive a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are counted only if the elector provides identification to the county recorder by 5pm on the fifth business day after a general election that includes an election for federal office, or by 5pm on the third business day after any other election.

Election officials shall request the voter to provide identification

• Current and valid photo ID
• Copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter

If a voter is unable to provide this identification, the election official shall indicate on the precinct voter registration list that the voter did not provide identification. Following each election, the county board of election commissioners may review the precinct voter registration lists and may provide the information of the voters not providing identification at the polls to the prosecuting attorney, who may investigate possible voter fraud.

Any eligible elector desiring to vote shall show his or her identification as defined in section 1-1-104 (19.5).

• Colorado driver's license
• CO Dept. of Revenue ID card
• U.S. passport
• Employee ID card with photo issued by the U.S. government, CO state government, or political subdivision of CO
• Pilot’s license
• U.S. military ID with photo
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector
• Medicare or Medicaid card
• Certified copy of birth certificate
• Certified documentation of naturalization

An eligible elector who is unable to produce identification may cast a provisional ballot. 

Elector must mail a photocopy of identification to county clerk in order to have provisional ballot counted. (this paragraph added following a Feb. 2006 conversation with an election official; NCSL staff unable to verify this in CO statutes or rules)

• Social security card
• Any other preprinted form of identification which shows the elector's name and either the elector's address, signature or photograph

Elector shall, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, write the elector's residential address and date of birth, print the elector's name and sign a statement under penalty of false statement that the elector is the elector whose name appears on the official checklist.

A voter, upon entering the room where an election is being held, shall announce his or her name and address and provide proof of identity

• Photo ID
• Utility bill
• Paycheck
• Any government document with voter’s name and address

In the event the voter does not have proof of identity with them, he or she shall sign an affidavit of affirmation that he or she is the person listed on the election district record.

The clerk or inspector shall require each elector, upon entering the polling place, to present a current and valid picture identification as provided in s. 97.0535(3)(a). If the picture identification does not contain the signature of the voter, an additional identification that provides the voter's signature shall be required.

• Florida driver's license

• Florida ID card issued by the Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

• U.S. passport

• Debit or credit card

• Military identification

• Student identification

• Retirement center identification

• Neighborhood association ID

• Public assistance identification

Each elector shall present proper identification to a poll worker at or prior to completion of a voter's certificate at any polling place and prior to such person's admission to the enclosed space at such polling place.

• Georgia driver’s license, even if expired
• ID card issued by the state of Georgia or the federal government
• Free voter ID card issued by the state or county
• U.S. passport
• Valid employee ID card containing a photograph from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state
• Valid U.S. military identification card
• Valid tribal photo ID

If you show up to vote and you do not have one of the acceptable forms of photo identification, you can still vote a provisional ballot.  You will have up to three days after the election to present appropriate photo identification at your county registrar's office in order for your provisional ballot to be counted.

Every person shall provide identification if so requested by a precinct official.

If the voter has no identification, the voter will be asked to recite his/her date of birth and residence address to corroborate the information provided in the poll book.

Idaho

Each elector shall show a valid photo identification or personal identification affidavit.

• Idaho driver's license
• Idaho ID card
• Passport
• ID card, including a photo, issued by an agency of the U.S. government
• Tribal ID card, including a photograph
• Student ID card, including a photograph, issued by a high school or accredited institution of higher education within the state of Idaho

A voter may complete an affidavit in lieu of the personal identification. The affidavit shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and shall require the voter to provide the voter's name and address. The voter shall sign the affidavit. Any person who knowingly provides false, erroneous or inaccurate information on such affidavit shall be guilty of a felony.

A voter who desires to vote an official ballot at an election shall provide proof of identification.

A voter who votes in person at a precinct polling place that is located at a state licensed care facility where the voter resides is not required to provide proof of identification before voting in an election.

Specific forms of ID are not listed in statute. ID must be issued by the state of Indiana or the U.S. government and must show the following:

• Name of individual to whom it was issued, which must conform to the individual's registration record
• Photo of the person to whom it was issued
• Expiration date (if it is expired, it must have an expiration date after the most recent general election; military IDs are exempted from the requirement that ID bear an expiration date)
• Must be issued by the United States or the state of Indiana

Voters who are unable or decline to produce proof of identification may vote a provisional ballot. The ballot is counted only if (1) the voter returns to the election board by noon on the Monday after the election and: (A) produces proof of identification; or (B) executes an affidavit stating that the voter cannot obtain proof of identification, because the voter: (i) is indigent; or (ii) has a religious objection to being photographed; and (2) the voter has not been challenged or required to vote a provisional ballot for any other reason.

Kansas

§25-2908, 25-1122, 25-3002, and 8-1324(g)(2)

Each person desiring to vote shall provide a valid form of identification. The following are exempted from the ID requirement:

• persons with a permanent physical disability that makes it impossible for them to travel to obtain voting identification and who have permanent advance voting status
• members of the merchant marine and uniformed service members who are on active duty and absent from the county on election day, as well as their spouses and dependents
• any voter whose religious beliefs prohibit photographic identification

• Driver's license issued by Kansas or another state
• State identification card
• Government-issued concealed carry handgun or weapon license
• U.S. passport
• Employee badge or identification document issued by a government office or agency
• Military ID
• Student ID issued by an accredited postsecondary institution in Kansas
• Government-issued public assistance ID card

Election officers shall confirm the identity of each voter by personal acquaintance or by a document.

• Driver’s license
• Social Security card
• Credit card

When the officers of an election disagree as to the qualifications of a voter or if his right to vote is disputed by a challenger, the voter shall sign a written oath as to his qualifications before he is permitted to vote.

Each applicant shall identify himself, in the presence and view of the bystanders, and present identification to the commissioners.

• Louisiana driver’s license
• Louisiana special ID card
• Other generally recognized picture identification

If the applicant does not have identification, s/he shall sign an affidavit to that effect before the commissioners, and the applicant shall provide further identification by presenting his current registration certificate, giving his date of birth or providing other information stated in the precinct register that is requested by the commissioners.  However, an applicant that is allowed to vote without the picture identification required by this Paragraph is subject to challenge as provided in R.S. 18:565.

Each voter must show a photo ID or sign an affidavit attesting that he or she is not in possession of photo identification.

• Michigan driver's license
• Michigan personal identification card

• Driver's license or personal identification card issued by another state
• Federal or state government-issued photo ID
• U.S. passport
• Military ID with photo
• Student ID with photo -- from a high school or accredited institution of higher education
• Tribal ID with photo

An individual who does not possess, or did not bring to the polls, photo ID, may sign an affidavit and vote a regular ballot.

Mississippi

An elector who votes in person in a primary or general election shall present government-issued photo identification before being allowed to vote. Voters who live and vote in a state-licensed care facility are exempt.

Mississippi's new constitutional amendment simply says "government-issued photo identification." Implementing legislation and/or administrative rules will be necessary to define precisely what this means.

An individual without ID can cast an affidavit ballot which will be counted if the individual returns to the appropriate circuit clerk within five days after the election and shows government-issued photo ID.

Voters with a religious objection to being photographed may vote an affidavit ballot, which will be counted if the voter returns to the appropriate circuit clerk within five days after the election and executes an affidavit that the religious exemption applies.

Before receiving a ballot, voters shall establish their identify and eligibility to vote at the polling place by presenting a form of personal identification.

• Identification issued by the federal government, state of Missouri, an agency of the state, or a local election authority;
• Identification issued by Missouri  institution of higher education, including a univeristy, college, vocational and technical school;
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter;
• Driver's license or state identification card issued by another state.

If an individual does not possess any of these forms of identification, s/he may still cast a ballot if two supervising election judges, one from each major political party, attest they know the person.

Before an elector is permitted to receive a ballot or vote, the elector shall present to an election judge a current photo identification showing the elector's name.  If the elector does not present photo identification the elector shall present one of several specified documents showing the elector’s name and current address.

• Driver’s license
• School district or postsecondary education photo identification
• Tribal photo identification
• Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, notice of confirmation of voter registration, government check, or other government document that shows the elector's name and current address

If the identification presented is insufficient to verify the elector's identity and eligibility to vote or if the elector's name does not appear in the precinct register, the elector may sign the precinct register and cast a provisional ballot.

Before delivering a ballot to an individual, the poll clerks shall request the individual to show identification.

• An official form of identification issued by the state
• An official form of identification issued by a tribal government
• A form of identification prescribed by the secretary of state

If an individual offering to vote does not have or refuses to show an appropriate form of identification, the individual may be allowed to vote without being challenged if the individual provides to the election board the individual's date of birth and if a member of the election board or a clerk knows the individual and can personally vouch that the individual is a qualified elector of the precinct. Otherwise, the individual may vote as a challenged voter by executing an affidavit that the challenged individual is a legally qualified elector of the precinct.

All voters must provide to election officials at the polling place on the day of an election proof of the voter's identity. Also applies to voters requesting and voting an absentee ballot.

• Current and valid photo identification, defined as a document that shows the individual’s name and current address, includes a photograph, includes an expiration date that has not passed, and was issued by the U.S. government or the state of Ohio

• Current utility bill
• Current bank statement
• Current government check, paycheck or other government document

A voter who has but declines to provide identification may cast a provisional ballot upon providing a social security number or the last four digits of a social security number. A voter who has neither identification nor a social security number may execute an affidavit to that effect and vote a provisional ballot. A voter who declines to sign the affidavit may still vote a provisional ballot.

Oklahoma

26 O.S. 2001, §7-114

Each person appearing to vote shall provide proof of identity.

"Proof of identity" shall mean a document that satisfies the following:

• Shows a name that substantially conforms to the name in the precinct registry
• Shows a photograph
• Includes an expiration date that is after the date of the election
• Was issued by the United States, state of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized Indian tribe or nation

A voter registration card issued by the appropriate county elections board may serve as proof of identity without meeting all of the above requirements.

A person who declines or is unable to produce proof of identity may sign a statement under oath swearing or affirming that the person is the person identified on the precinct registry and cast a provisional ballot.

Rhode Island

§17-19-24.2

NOTE:  RI's new voter ID law takes effect in two stages. The first stage took effect on Jan. 1, 2012. The second stage will require photo ID beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

Any person claiming to be a registered and eligible voter who desires to vote at a primary, special or general election shall provide proof of identity.

Effective January 1, 2012:

A valid and current document showing a photo of the person to whom it was issued, including:

• RI driver's license
• RI voter identification card
• U.S. passport
• Identification card issued by a U.S. educational institution
• U.S. military identification card
• Identification card issued by the U.S. government or state of RI
• Government-issued medical card

The following forms of ID will be acceptable until January 1, 2014, when only the photo IDs listed above will be accepted for voting.

A valid and current document without a photograph, including:

• Birth certificate
• Social security card
• Government-issued medical card

If the person claiming to be a registered and eligible voter is unable to provide proof of identity as required, the person shall be allowed to vote a provisional ballot pursuant to section 17-19-24.2. The local board shall determine the validity of the provisional ballot pursuant to section 17-19-24.3.

Summary of section 17-19-24.3:

The local board shall examine each provisional ballot application to determine if the signature matches the signature on the voter's registration.  If the signatures match, the provisional ballot shall count.  If the signatures do not match, the ballot shall not count and shall be rejected as illegal.

Existing law:

When any person presents himself to vote, he shall produce his valid South Carolina driver’s license or other form of identification containing a photograph issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, if he is not licensed to drive, or the written notification of registration.

New law:

When a person presents himself to vote, he shall produce a valid and current ID.
 

Existing law:

• Voter registration certificate
• South Carolina driver’s license
• South Carolina Dept. of Motor Vehicles photo ID card

New law:

• South Carolina driver's license
• Other form of photo ID issued by the SC Dept. of Motor Vehicles
• Passport
• Military ID bearing a photo issued by the federal government
• South Carolina voter registration card with a photo

Existing law:

Voters without ID may be permitted to vote a provisional ballot.  This varies from county to county. Whether the provisional ballot is counted is at the discretion of the county commissioners at the provisional ballot hearing.

New law:

If the elector cannot produce identification, he may cast a provisional ballot that is counted only if the elector brings a valid and current photograph identification to the county board of registration and elections before certification of the election by the county board of canvassers.

When a voter is requesting a ballot, the voter shall present a valid form of personal identification.

• South Dakota driver’s license or nondriver identification card
• U.S. passport
• Photo ID issued by an agency of the U.S. government
• Tribal ID card, including a photo
• Student ID card, including a photo, issued by an accredited South Dakota school

If a voter is not able to present a form of personal identification as required, the voter may complete an affidavit in lieu of the personal identification.  The affidavit shall require the voter to provide his or her name and address. The voter shall sign the affidavit under penalty of perjury.

• TN driver’s license
• Valid photo ID card issued by any state
• Valid photo ID license issued by TN Dept. of Safety
• Valid U.S. passport
• Valid U.S. military ID with photo

If a voter is unable to present the proper evidence of identification, then the voter will be entitled to vote by provisional ballot in the manner detailed in the bill. The provisional ballot will only be counted if the voter provides the proper evidence of identification to the administrator of elections or the administrator's designee by the close of business on the second business day after the election.

Existing law:

On offering to vote, a voter must present the voter’s voter registration certificate to an election officer at the polling place.

New law:

On offering to vote, a voter must present to an election officer at the polling place one form of identification. 

Existing law:

• Driver’s license
• Department of Public Safety ID card
• A form of ID containing the person’s photo that establishes the person’s identity
• A birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the person’s identity
• U.S. citizenship papers
• A U.S. passport
• Official mail addressed to the person, by name, from a governmental entity
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the person’s name and address
• Any other form of ID prescribed by the secretary of state

New law:

• Driver's license
• Election identification certificate
• Dept. of Public Safety personal ID card
• U.S. military ID
• U.S. citizenship certificate
• U.S. passport
• License to carry a concealed handgun issued by the Dept. of Public Safety

All of the above must include a photo of the voter. With the exception of the certificate of citizenship, these forms of ID cannot be expired, or cannot have expired more than 60 days before the election. 

Existing law:

A voter who does not present a voter registration certificate when offering to vote, but whose name is on the list of registered voters for the precinct in which the voter is offering to vote, shall be accepted for voting if the voter executes an affidavit stating that the voter does not have the voter’s voter registration certificate in the voter’s possession and the voter presents other proof of identification. A voter who does not present a voter registration certificate and cannot present other identification may vote a provisional ballot. A voter who does not present a voter registration certificate and whose name is not on the list of registered voters may vote a provisional ballot.

New law:

A voter who fails to present the required identification may cast a provisional ballot.  The voter must present, not later than the sixth day after the date of the election, the required form of identification to the voter registrar for examination OR the voter may execute, in the presence of the voter registrar, an affidavit under penalty of perjury stating that the voter has a religious objection to being photographed or that the voter does not have identification as a result of a natural disaster declared by the president or the governor which occurred not earlier than 45 days before the date the ballot was cast. 

A voter shall present valid voter identification to one of the poll workers.

• Current valid UT driver's license
• Current valid identification card issued by the state or federal government
• UT concealed weapon permit
• U.S. passport
• Current valid U.S. military ID card
• Bureau of Indian Affairs card
• Tribal treat card
• Tribal ID card

• Two forms of ID that bear the name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the precinct

The voter may cast a provisional ballot as provided by §20A-3-105.5

The officer shall ask the voter to present any one of the specified forms of identification.

• Virginia voter registration card
• Social Security card
• Virginia driver's license
• Any other identification card issued by a government agency of the Commonwealth, one of its political subdivisions, or the United States
• Employee identification card containing a photograph

If a voter is entitled to vote except that he is unable to present one of the forms of identification listed above, he shall be allowed to vote after signing a statement, subject to felony penalties for false statements, that he is the named registered voter who he claims to be.

Any person desiring to vote at any primary or election is required to provide identification to the election officer before signing the poll book.

• Valid photo identification, such as a driver's license or state identification card, student identification card, or tribal identification card
• A voter identification issued by a county elections officer, or
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check or other government document

Any individual who desires to vote in person but cannot provide identification as required by this section shall be issued a provisional ballot.

Wisconsin

§6.79(2)(a)

NOTE:  While poll workers will begin asking for ID immediately, voters are not required to show it until the February 2012 spring primary election.

 Each elector shall be required to present identification.

• Wisconsin driver's license
• ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service
• Wisconsin non-driver ID
• U.S. Passport
• Certificate of naturalization issued not more than 2 years before the election
• ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in WI
• Student ID card with a signature, an issue date, and an expiration date no later than 2 years after the election

All of the above must include a photo and a name that conforms to the poll list.

If the ID presented is not proof of residence,the elector shall also present proof of residence.