How Many States Have Voter ID Requirements? Strict vs. Non-Strict

Thirty-six states have voter ID requirements, and fourteen states plus Washington, D.C., do not ask voters to show any documentation at the polls.¹ Among the states that require ID, thirteen enforce strict rules, meaning a voter without acceptable ID must cast a provisional ballot and return to an election office within a short deadline for that ballot to count. The other twenty-three use non-strict rules, where a voter who lacks the right document can still have their ballot counted through signature verification, a sworn affidavit, or a poll worker vouching for them.

The Thirteen Strict ID States

In a strict ID state, showing up empty-handed does not end your vote, but it does put it at risk. You cast a provisional ballot at the polls, then have a limited window to visit a county election office with acceptable ID. Miss the deadline and the ballot is discarded.

Ten states enforce strict photo ID requirements: Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Three more enforce strict non-photo ID requirements, meaning documents without a photograph can satisfy the rule but the return-trip consequences are the same: Arizona, North Dakota, and Wyoming.¹

The return windows are short. Georgia gives voters three days. Tennessee sets four business days. Indiana allows ten days. Wisconsin cuts off at 4 p.m. the Friday after the election.² Some states count in business days, others in calendar days, so an Election Day on Tuesday can leave a voter as little as two or three working days to reach a county office during business hours.

The Twenty-Three Non-Strict ID States

Non-strict states still ask for identification, but they include a fallback that does not require a second trip. A voter without acceptable ID can still have the ballot counted based on what happens at the polling place.¹

Fourteen states use non-strict photo ID laws: Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia. Nine states use non-strict non-photo ID laws: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.¹

The fallback mechanism varies. In some states, a voter without ID signs a sworn affidavit, and officials compare the signature against the registration record. In others, a poll worker who knows the voter can vouch for them. Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Utah use provisional ballots that election officials then verify automatically through signature matching or registration checks, so the voter does not need to come back.¹

States That Do Not Require ID at the Polls

Fourteen states and Washington, D.C., do not require voters to present any documentation: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.¹ Poll workers in these jurisdictions verify identity by matching the voter’s signature against the one collected at registration.

One federal exception applies everywhere. Under the Help America Vote Act, a first-time voter who registered by mail must show ID the first time they vote in a federal election. Acceptable documents include a photo ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document showing the voter’s name and address.³ A voter who cannot provide either can cast a provisional ballot. Beyond that federal floor, the fourteen no-ID states rely on signature verification.

What Counts as Acceptable ID

The document list varies widely. Indiana and Georgia accept only government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, military ID, or state-issued voter ID card. Non-photo states like Alaska and Virginia will take a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document showing name and address.

Tribal IDs

At least fifteen states explicitly accept tribal identification cards: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.¹ Requirements differ. Some accept any tribal enrollment card, while others require a photograph or expiration date on the card.

Student IDs

Most voter ID states accept some form of student identification, but the rules are inconsistent and moving. Some states accept IDs from any accredited college or university. Others limit acceptance to public institutions. Idaho removed student IDs from its acceptable list in 2023. Indiana banned educational institution IDs for voting in 2025. Montana moved the other way in 2025, passing legislation to allow certain student photo IDs.¹ Confirm your state’s current rule before Election Day.

Free Voter ID Cards

Most strict photo ID states offer free identification cards for voting. Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin provide free voter ID through motor vehicle offices or county election boards. Several non-strict photo ID states also offer free IDs, including Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Wyoming. Getting one usually means visiting a government office in person with supporting documents like a birth certificate, which can carry its own fee of roughly $10 to $25 depending on the state.

ID Rules for Absentee and Mail Ballots

Voter ID requirements are no longer limited to in-person voting. Alabama, Kentucky, and New Hampshire require voters to include a copy of a photo ID when requesting a mail ballot. Arkansas and North Carolina require a photo ID copy when returning a completed mail ballot. Georgia and Ohio require identification at both stages. Additional states impose absentee ID requirements in certain circumstances beyond the federal baseline.

Voters who cannot include an ID copy typically have the option to complete an exception form or have the ballot treated as provisional, but the deadlines and specifics vary by state.

Exemptions for Voters Who Cannot Obtain ID

Several strict ID states carve out exemptions. The most common categories are voters who cannot afford the cost of obtaining an ID, voters with sincere religious objections to being photographed, and residents of nursing homes or other state-licensed care facilities whose identity is confirmed by facility staff. Indiana’s law includes all three categories.

Some states also protect voters enrolled in address confidentiality programs, including survivors of domestic violence, from having to present standard ID that could expose their location. Where an exemption applies, the voter usually signs a sworn statement and the ballot is counted without follow-up. Local election officials at the polling place typically determine eligibility.

Recent Changes

The map keeps shifting. Nebraska enacted a photo ID requirement effective April 2024. Ohio moved from non-strict to strict photo ID. North Carolina’s 2018 voter ID law, blocked by courts for years, was restored after the state Supreme Court reversed an earlier ruling in 2023. West Virginia upgraded from non-photo to photo ID in 2025. Wisconsin voters approved a constitutional amendment enshrining the state’s existing photo ID requirement.¹ Because the rules can change between elections, check your state’s current requirements from an official source before you vote.

1
National Conference of State Legislatures. Voter ID Laws
2
National Conference of State Legislatures. Provisional Ballots
3
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 52 USC 21083 – Computerized Statewide Voter Registration List Requirements and Requirements for Voters Who Register by Mail