Update Your ID Address by Oct 5

Are You Familiar With the New Voter ID Requirements?

State law has required that a voter provide ID to vote in elections since 2004. However, legislature has changed the definition of a valid ID over the years. The most recent change was made during the last legislative session.

There are now five approved forms of identification: North Dakota Driver’s License; North Dakota Non-driver’s ID; Tribal Issued ID; Student ID Certificate; Long Term Care ID Certificate

In all cases, the ID must include the voter’s name, current residential address (no PO Boxes) and date of birth. Some IDs issued by tribal governments do not include all the required information, so it is important for voters to check the ID prior to attempting to use it for voting.

Absentee and mail-in voters are required to write down their ID number on their application or if using a Student or Long Term Care ID Certificate, include a copy of the certificate with their ballot application. Those voting in person on Election Day or at an early voting location will show or provide their ID to the poll workers.

The North Dakota Secretary of State’s office has a section of its website specifically dedicated to helping residents understand voting requirements. Vote.ND.Gov includes information about voting and ID, tools for finding your polling place, viewing your sample ballot, and viewing instructional videos, and a link to update your address information with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT).

Voters can change their address online at Vote.ND.Gov through the NDDOT Address Change Utility, which will then update the voter’s record in the Central Voter File or by visiting a driver’s license bureau. If the address is updated online, the pollbook will contain the updated address even though the voter’s driver’s license or non-driver’s ID does not since the address was updated in the Central Voter File. You MUST update your address by October 5thto be eligible to vote in the November 4th election. 

Anyone with election questions is encouraged to call their county auditor’s office or go to Vote.ND.Gov or call the Elections Unit of the Secretary of State’s office at 1-800-352-0867, option 6.