2016 Voter ID Law & Exceptions


Courtesy of Senator Angela Bryant and Representative Bobbie Richardson.

The 2016 Primary is a short two months away. On Tuesday, March 15, voters will decide on a host of candidates in for their party in local, state and national races, as well the fate of the Connect NC bond initiative.

For the first time in North Carolina history, voters will be required to show an acceptable form of identification at the polls this year. To find out more about voter ID laws and exceptions, visit www.voterid.nc.gov.

On this website, you’ll find Exceptions to Voter ID:

DECLARATION OF REASONABLE IMPEDIMENT

Voters who are unable to obtain an acceptable photo ID due to a reasonable impediment may still vote a provisional ballot at the polls. Examples of a reasonable impediment include, but are not limited to, the lack of proper documents, family obligations, transportation problems, work schedule, illness or disability, etc.

Voters must also:

  • Sign a declaration describing their impediment and
  • Provide their date of birth and last four digits of their Social Security number, or present their current voter registration card or a copy of an acceptable document bearing their name and address. Acceptable documents include a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government-issued document.

The provisional ballot will be counted when the information on the declaration is verified and all other eligibility requirements are met.

ABSENTEE BY-MAIL VOTING

Photo ID is not required for a mail-in absentee ballot. Absentee Ballot Request Forms are available online, at the county board of elections, and at all one-stop early voting locations.

Request forms must be received by the county board of elections by 5 pm on the Tuesday before the date of the elections.

Completed Absentee Ballots must be returned to the county board of elections by 5 pm on Election Day, or post-marked by Election Day and received by the county board of elections no later than by 5 pm three days after the election.

PERSONS WHO ARE QUALIFIED FOR CURBSIDE VOTING

Persons who travel to a voting place on Election Day or during Early Voting, but who, due to age or physical disability, are unable to enter the voting enclosure without physical assistance, will be permitted to vote from a vehicle. Such persons must present either and acceptable photo ID or an acceptable document showing his or her name and address. Acceptable documents include a current utility bill, banks statement, government check, paycheck or other government-issued document.

SUBSEQUENT PRESENTATION OF ACCEPTABLE PHOTO ID

Voters who have access to an acceptable form of photo ID but do not present it at the polling site may vote a provisional ballot and later present an acceptable form of photo ID to an election official at the county board of elections office. The deadline for presenting the photo ID will be provided to the voter when he or she casts the provisional ballot. The provisional ballot will be counted if the voter presents acceptable photo ID by the deadline and all other eligibility requirements are met.

Alternatively, a voter may leave the voting site to retrieve his or her photo ID and return to the polls before closing time to cast a regular ballot.

VOTERS OVER THE AGE OF 70

Voters who are 70 years of age or older may use any acceptable photo ID that has been expired for any length of time, provided the photo ID expired after their 70th birthday.

NATURAL DISASTER

A voter will not be required to show photo ID if the voter declares that he or she is a victim of a natural disaster that occurred within 60 days of the election date. The voter must reside in a county that has officially been declared a natural disaster area by either the Governor of North Carolina or the President of the United States.

RELIGIOUS OBJECTION

Voters who have a religious objection to being photographed may file a declaration with their county board of elections and will not be required to present photo ID. If a voter does not file a declaration at least 25 days before the elections he or she may cast a provisional ballot. The ballot will be counted if the voter later appears in person at the county board of elections to execute the declaration and provides an acceptable document show the voter’s name and address. Acceptable documents include a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government-issued document. The deadline for signing the declaration will be provided to the voter when he or she casts a provisional ballot.

Help is available fi you have special needs or circumstances, are having difficulty getting the documents you need or can’t get to a DMV office. To learn more, please contact the NC State Board of Elections Voter Outreach Team at 866-522-4723 or email voteroutreach.sboe@ncsbe.gov.