Voter ID Laws by State

Voter ID laws require you to show a recognized form of identification before casting a ballot. What counts as acceptable ID depends on your state. Some accept a broad range of documents, while others require a government-issued photo ID.

When you show up to vote, you may be asked to verify who you are before receiving a ballot. The type of document you need to bring to show voter information or identification depends on where you live. Most states have some form of voter identification requirement.

This article explains what voter ID laws are, which forms of identification are commonly accepted, and how requirements for in-person or absentee voting vary across the country. If you believe your right to vote was improperly denied, contact a civil rights attorney near you. They can review what happened and help you understand whether your voting rights were violated.

What Are Voter ID Laws?

Voter ID laws are state statutes that require you to present proof of identity before casting a ballot at the polls. Acceptable identification generally falls into one of two categories:

• A form of photo ID
• Documents that confirm your name and address without a photo

To get a qualifying government-issued photo ID, you generally need to provide two things:

• Documentation of your identity, such as a birth certificate or Social Security card
• Proof of your current address, such as a bank statement or utility bill

Take note that the requirements may vary by state. At the federal level, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 sets a minimum identification rule. If you registered by mail for the first time in a federal election and did not provide a driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number when you registered, you must show identification before you vote. Acceptable documents include a current and valid photo ID or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that displays the voter’s name and address.

Why Do States Have Voter Identification Requirements?

The most common reason states give for enacting voter ID laws is preventing voter fraud. The voter identification requirements ensure that only registered voters cast ballots. It protects the integrity of the electoral process and reinforces public trust in election outcomes. To find out how you can safeguard your right to vote, visit FindLaw’s guide on how to protect your right to vote.

Indiana became the first state to pass a strict photo ID law in 2005. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld that law in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board (2008). Here, the Court ruled that the state’s interest in deterring fraud and maintaining confidence in elections was sufficient to uphold the photo ID requirement despite the burden it placed on some voters.

There are many critics of state voter ID requirements. They say voter ID laws are a form of voter suppression. Voter suppression occurs when one person or a group prevents voters from casting a ballot.

Common criticisms of voter ID laws include statistics suggesting they may reduce voter turnout and the number of ballots cast. Another common criticism is that specific populations are less likely than others to have access to acceptable forms of ID. The following section describes the controversy surrounding voter ID laws.

Types of Acceptable Identification

Identification accepted at the polling place generally falls into two categories: photo ID and non-photo ID.

Photo Identification

Photo identification includes documents that carry your photograph. The most common examples are:

• A driver’s license
• A state-issued photo identification card
• A U.S. passport
• A U.S. military ID
• A federally recognized tribal ID

Some states have previously accepted student ID cards from accredited colleges and universities. However, in recent years, several have restricted or eliminated that option. Idaho, for example, removed student IDs from its list of qualifying documents in 2023. If you are unsure about your state’s voter ID requirements, it is best to contact your local election office.

Non-Photo Identification

Non-photo identification refers to documents that confirm your name and address without a photograph. States that allow this category commonly accept utility bills, bank statements, paychecks, government checks, and other government-issued correspondence showing your name and current address.

State-By-State Breakdown

Voter ID requirements differ significantly from state to state. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) categorizes these laws in two ways: the type of identification required (photo or non-photo) and whether the law is strict or non-strict, based on the options available to voters who lack acceptable identification.

Here is a general overview of voter IDs per state and where they currently fall:

Strict Photo ID

In states with strict photo ID requirements, voters must present a qualifying photo ID to cast a ballot. Those who arrive at the polling station without a photo ID may only vote by provisional ballot and may be asked to take additional steps to ensure the ballot counts. In Georgia, for example, voters who arrive without an accepted photo ID may cast a provisional ballot. They are then required to present an acceptable photo identification card at the county registrar’s office within three days after the election for the ballot to be counted.

• Arkansas
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Tennessee
• Wisconsin

Non-Strict Photo ID

In states with non-strict photo ID requirements, photo identification is requested but not mandatory. If you arrive at the polls without one, you can still cast a regular ballot through an alternative method at the time of voting. Michigan, for example, allows voters without an ID to sign a brief affidavit at the polling location and receive a regular ballot on the spot.

• Alabama
• Florida
• Idaho
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Texas
• West Virginia

Strict Non-Photo ID

In states with strict non-photo ID requirements, you must present an accepted form of identification, but it does not need to include a photograph. If you arrive without one, you may only cast a provisional ballot. You must then follow up after Election Day to verify your identity before your vote counts. In Wyoming, for example, accepted forms of identification include a driver’s license, state ID card, United States passport, U.S. military identification card, or student ID issued by a Wyoming school. None of those needs to include a photo.

If you arrive at the polls without an accepted document, you can still cast a provisional ballot. You will then need to bring valid identification to the county clerk by the close of business on the day after the election.

• Arizona
• North Dakota
• Wyoming

Non-Strict Non-Photo ID

In states with non-strict non-photo ID requirements, identification is requested but does not need to include a photograph. If you cannot produce an accepted document, you will not be turned away. You can still cast a regular ballot through an alternative method at the time of voting, such as signing an affidavit or having a poll worker verify your identity. In Virginia, for example, voters who do not have acceptable identification can sign an ID Confirmation Statement at the polls and receive a regular ballot.

• Alaska
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Iowa
• Oklahoma
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington

No Separate ID Document Required

In states with no separate ID requirement, most voters do not need to present an identification document at the polls, especially if they vote by mail. Identity is typically confirmed through information already on file, such as matching a signature against registration records or verifying information in the poll book. Note that first-time voters who registered by mail and did not provide identifying numbers at registration may still be required to show ID under federal law. California and Oregon, for example, send mail ballots automatically to all registered voters and verify them through signature matching rather than in-person ID checks, though in-person voting remains available in California.

• California
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Vermont
• Washington, D.C.

Remember that if there is any question about your eligibility to vote, election officials and poll workers should not turn you away. You have the right to cast a vote using a provisional ballot. If you feel like your right to vote has been violated, contact a civil law attorney near you. They can look at the circumstances of what happened and ensure that you can exercise your right to vote and that people are held accountable for the violation of this right. 

State laws in this area change frequently. For the most current requirements in your state, visit your state’s official election authority or check Vote.gov.

Who Is Most Affected by Voter ID Requirements?

One of the most persistent criticisms of strict voter ID laws is that the burden of complying with them is not evenly distributed across the population. A common criticism is that some people may not have access to these documents. Without the ability to get a government-issued photo ID, they can’t get a voter registration card. They can’t cast a ballot on Election Day unless they are properly registered to vote.

A 2023–2024 survey conducted by the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement (CDCE) found that nearly 21 million adult U.S. citizens of voting age do not have a current, unexpired driver’s license. Another 28.6 million have a license that does not reflect their current name or address, which can disqualify an otherwise valid ID under some state laws.

The survey also found significant racial and ethnic gaps in driver’s license possession compared to white Americans, of whom only 5% lack one:

• 18% of Black Americans do not have a driver’s license
• 15% of Hispanic Americans do not have a driver’s license
• 13% of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans do not have a driver’s license

Younger Americans are also more likely to have a license that does not match their current name or address:

• 41% of adults between 18 and 24 have an outdated or mismatched license
• 38% of adults between 25 and 29 have an outdated or mismatched license

The study also found income-based disparities. People earning under $30,000 annually are four times more likely than those earning over $100,000 to have a license showing an outdated name or address.

These laws impact specific groups of people more than others. These groups are statistically less likely to possess identification satisfying photo ID requirements. These groups include the following:

• People of color (e.g., African Americans and Native Americans)
• People with low incomes
• The elderly
• The disabled
• Young people (e.g., college students)

Those who oppose strict identification laws argue that this amounts to voter suppression. Many of the voter ID laws have faced legal challenges in court. 

Get Help If Your Voting Rights Were Denied

If you were turned away at the polls or prevented from casting a regular ballot or an absentee ballot due to an ID requirement, you have legal options. A civil rights attorney can review your situation, explain your rights under federal and state law, and help you take appropriate action if your right to vote was improperly denied. FindLaw’s attorney directory can connect you with a civil rights lawyer near you who handles voting rights matters.