Voter ID laws by state
36 states request or require some ID to vote in person and 14 don't, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Rules change, so always check with your state election office.
- Photo ID required (10)
- Photo ID requested (12)
- ID required (non-photo accepted) (3)
- ID requested (non-photo accepted) (11)
- No document required (14)
Photo ID required (10)
Without one, you vote a provisional ballot and must show ID afterwards.
Arkansas · Georgia · Indiana · Kansas · Mississippi · New Hampshire · North Carolina · Ohio · Tennessee · Wisconsin
Photo ID requested (12)
Voters without one can still vote another way, such as signing an affidavit.
Alabama · Florida · Idaho · Louisiana · Michigan · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Texas
ID required (non-photo accepted) (3)
Non-photo documents, such as a bank statement, count.
Arizona · North Dakota · Wyoming
ID requested (non-photo accepted) (11)
Voters without one can still vote another way.
Alaska · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Iowa · Kentucky · Oklahoma · Utah · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia
No document required (14)
Identity is checked in other ways, such as a signature.
California · Hawaii · Illinois · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Nevada · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Vermont
Questions and answers
Which states require photo ID to vote?
10 states strictly require it: Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
What happens if I don't bring ID?
It depends on the state. Where ID is required, you vote a provisional ballot that counts if you show ID within a few days. Where it's only requested, you can vote another way, such as signing an affidavit.
Do I need ID to vote by mail?
Mail voting rules are different: some states ask for a driver's license number or the last digits of your Social Security number on the application or envelope.
How to vote in every state · 2026 voter ID ballot measures
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), "Voter ID Laws", 2024 categories, via Wikipedia; New Hampshire per its 2024 law that ended the affidavit alternative. Always confirm with your state election office.