Voting Rights Guide: North Dakota (ND)
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Voting Rights Guide: North Dakota (ND)

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Voting Rights Guide: North Dakota (ND)

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IMPORTANT: Voting laws change frequently. Always verify information with official government sources before acting. This guide was last updated: 2026-09-16. If you find an error, report it immediately.

Jurisdiction Type: State

Table of Contents

  1. Voter Registration
  2. Birth Certificates
  3. Proof of Citizenship Documents
  4. How to Vote
  5. Voting Laws & Legal Resources
  6. If You Are Denied the Right to Vote
  7. Resources & Contacts

Voter Registration

Same-Day Registration: NO — you must register before Election Day.

Registration Deadline: No registration required — North Dakota is the only state that does not have voter registration Photo ID Required to Register: Yes Accepted IDs: North Dakota driver’s license, North Dakota non-driver’s ID card, Tribal government-issued ID card, Long-term care ID certificate

Registration Links

Notes: North Dakota does not require voter registration — it is the only U.S. state without it. To vote, you must present a valid ID showing your name, current North Dakota residential address, and date of birth. You must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 on Election Day, and have resided in your precinct for 30 days before the election. If your ID lacks a current address or date of birth, supplemental documents (such as a utility bill, bank statement, or government document showing name and address) may be accepted. Voters without a traditional address may still vote using accepted identification. Note: because there is no registration process, ‘same-day registration’ does not apply — voters simply verify identity at the polls. Overseas and military citizens vote under UOCAVA using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).

Birth Certificates

A birth certificate may be needed to prove citizenship or obtain other identity documents.

Issuing Agency: North Dakota Department of Health, Division of Vital Records Fee: $15 for first certified copy (one search fee pays for one certified copy) Standard Processing Time: 3-5 business days after request is received Expedited Option: verify

How to Request

  • Request Online
  • By Mail: ND Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 301, Bismarck, ND 58505-0200

Notes: Certified copies can only be obtained from the ND Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records; there are no records available at the county level. Requests may only be made by the individual named on the record (age 16+), the mother or father named on the record, or eligible relatives/representatives if the individual is deceased. Records of births out of wedlock are sealed in perpetuity. The state does not provide uncertified copies of birth records. Check or money order should be made payable to ND Department of Health. State office has some records starting in 1870, but 1870-1920 are incomplete. Fee and expedited details from third-party services (VitalChek, GoCertificates, vitalrecordsonline) were not verified against the official state agency; confirm current fees and any expedited option by contacting the office at 701-328-2360.

Proof of Citizenship Documents

You may need proof of citizenship to register to vote or to obtain a REAL ID.

Accepted Documents

  • Valid, unexpired U.S. Passport
  • U.S. Passport Card
  • Certificate of Naturalization
  • Certificate of Citizenship
  • Birth certificate (certified copy with raised/embossed seal of the issuing agency)

How to Obtain Citizenship Proof

North Dakota does not require proof of citizenship to register or vote (the state has no voter registration; voters instead show an accepted ID). To obtain a document proving citizenship: For a birth certificate, request a certified copy from the state’s vital records agency — North Dakota only issues certified copies with a raised/embossed seal (old black-and-white prints are not certified). For a U.S. passport, apply in person at a passport acceptance facility such as a County Recorder’s Office (e.g., Renville, Stark counties) or NDSU’s certified passport facility; complete the application, attach a passport photo, provide proof of citizenship (birth certificate or Certificate of Naturalization), and submit payment by check or money order. For a Certificate of Citizenship, file Form N-600 with USCIS (online or by mail to the USCIS Elgin Lockbox).

For US Citizens Abroad

verify

Notes: IMPORTANT: North Dakota is the only state with NO voter registration and does NOT require proof of citizenship to vote (source: bolderadvocacy.org, mapresearch.org). To vote you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18, and have lived in North Dakota for 30 days before the election. Voters instead present an approved ID showing name, current North Dakota residential address, and date of birth; election officials verify citizenship against the Central Voter File linked to Department of Transportation data. Voters without an acceptable ID may use supplemental documents or, for absentee ballots, an attester. Note: a 2013 law change removed passport and utility bill as acceptable ID, and a 2014 change removed the affidavit option. The passport/naturalization/citizenship documents listed above are those cited by a county elections page in the context of establishing U.S. citizen status. For a birth certificate to be valid proof, it must show birth in one of the 50 states or D.C.; persons born to foreign diplomats are not citizens.

How to Vote

Voting in Person

Photo ID Required: Yes Accepted IDs: Valid North Dakota driver’s license or state-issued ID, Tribal government-issued identification (including those issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for a tribe located in North Dakota or any other tribal agency), Free IDs are available for those who lack acceptable identification Polls Open: verify Find Your Polling Place

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Step 1: North Dakota does not require voter registration, so no registration step is needed.
  2. Step 2: Confirm you are eligible: 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and have lived in North Dakota for 30 days before the election.
  3. Step 3: Bring a valid form of ID (such as a North Dakota driver’s license, state ID, or tribal ID).
  4. Step 4: Go to your polling place on Election Day and show your ID to vote.

Voting by Mail

Mail voting is available — no excuse required. Application Deadline: 1 day before Election Day (e.g., Mon Nov 2, 2026 for the Nov 3, 2026 general election). vote.org notes no specific mail deadline but recommends requesting at least 7 days before Election Day. Ballot Return Deadline: Must be received by the close of polls on Election Day (verify: one source states ballots must be postmarked 1 day before Election Day; this is contradictory) Request Mail Ballot

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Step 1: You are never mailed a ballot without first requesting one.
  2. Step 2: In vote-by-mail counties, the county auditor mails you an absentee ballot application. In absentee counties, request the application from your county auditor.
  3. Step 3: Complete and submit the application with your valid North Dakota ID information.
  4. Step 4: After receiving your ballot, complete it, sign and date it, and return it by mail, county drop box, or in person to the county auditor.
  5. Step 5: Ballots will NOT be accepted at polling locations on Election Day.

Voting by Absentee Ballot

Excuse Required: No Application Deadline: 1 day before Election Day (e.g., Mon Nov 2, 2026 for the Nov 3, 2026 general election) Absentee Ballot Application

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Step 1: Request an absentee ballot application from your county auditor (in vote-by-mail counties this is mailed to you automatically).
  2. Step 2: Complete the application and include your valid North Dakota ID information.
  3. Step 3: Submit the application to your county auditor.
  4. Step 4: When you receive your ballot, sign and date it, then return it by mail, county drop box, or in person to the county auditor by the close of polls on Election Day.

Early Voting

Early voting is available. Begins: 15 days before Election Day Find Early Voting Locations

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Step 1: Check whether your county offers early voting (not all counties do; as of September 2026 only six counties offered it: Burleigh, Cass, Grand Forks, Morton, Sioux, and Stutsman).
  2. Step 2: Early voting begins 15 days before the election and continues through the day before Election Day at sites chosen by the county auditor.
  3. Step 3: Bring a valid form of ID and vote in person at an early voting location.

Voting Laws & Legal Resources

North Dakota is the only U.S. state without voter registration. To vote, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and have lived in North Dakota for 30 days before an election. Instead of registering, voters prove their eligibility at the polls with a valid ID. Accepted IDs include a North Dakota driver’s license, a North Dakota non-driver ID, or a tribal ID. The ID must show your name, current residential address, and date of birth. If your ID is missing some required information, you may present supplemental documents such as a utility bill or bank statement. Voters who do not bring an ID can cast a ballot that is set aside until they present valid ID.

Recent Law Changes

  • 2017: Governor Doug Burgum signed HB 1369, which reestablished the state’s voter ID requirement (Section 16.1-01-04.1). It allows voters without ID to cast a set-aside ballot until they present valid ID, and permits alternative documents like utility bills or bank statements if the ID lacks required information.
  • Impact: Voters must present one of a limited set of IDs showing a residential address; those without ID can still vote provisionally if they later show valid ID.
  • 2020: In February 2020, following the Spirit Lake Tribe v. Jaeger litigation, the North Dakota Secretary of State agreed to a settlement addressing the residential-address ID requirement that had burdened Native American voters. Tribal members without a qualifying residential address can mark their home on a map, and the state agreed to distribute free non-driver photo IDs on every reservation within 30 days of future elections.
  • Impact: Native American voters who lack or do not know their residential street address can still vote, and can obtain free IDs on reservations before elections.

Voting Rights Law Firms

If You Are Denied the Right to Vote

Know your rights. You have the right to vote if you are eligible. If denied, do NOT leave — ask for a provisional ballot.

Denied Enroute to the Polling Place

  1. Step 1: Do not leave. You have the right to vote if you are a legally qualified elector of the precinct.
  2. Step 2: Note that North Dakota has no voter registration — you only need a valid ID showing your name, current residential address, and date of birth.
  3. Step 3: If you are told you cannot vote due to an ID or residential address problem, ask the election board about the Voter’s Affidavit option (see polls section).
  4. Step 4: Call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) for immediate help.
  5. Step 5: Document what happened — names, times, and what you were told.

Resources:

Emergency Contacts:

  • Election Protection Hotline 1-866-687-8683 — Call if you are blocked from getting to or into your polling place

Denied at the Polling Place

  1. Step 1: Ask the election board exactly why you are being denied (ID issue, address issue, or eligibility challenge).
  2. Step 2: If your identification is questioned or does not adequately confirm eligibility, ask to execute a Voter’s Affidavit, sworn before the election inspector, stating you are a legally qualified elector of the precinct.
  3. Step 3: If you lack an ID with a current residential address, note that courts have expanded acceptable ID forms (including P.O. boxes for Native voters) — ask the poll worker about acceptable alternatives.
  4. Step 4: Call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) before leaving.
  5. Step 5: Write down poll worker names, the time, and exactly what you were told.

Provisional Ballot: North Dakota does not have traditional voter registration and its challenge process is not specified in statute (per NCSL). Instead of a standard provisional ballot, a challenged voter who cannot adequately confirm eligibility may cast a ballot only by executing a Voter’s Affidavit, sworn before the election inspector, that they are a legally qualified elector of the precinct. If a voter refuses to sign the affidavit, they may be denied the right to vote. Under the 2017 law, some voters could cast a ballot contingent on presenting valid ID within 6 days of the election. Voter ID rules have been subject to litigation — verify current requirements with the Secretary of State or Election Protection.

Resources:

Emergency Contacts:

  • Election Protection Hotline 1-866-687-8683 — Call if denied a ballot or an affidavit option at the polls
  • North Dakota Secretary of State verify — Call to report voting issues or file a complaint

Mail Ballot Denied or Not Received

  1. Step 1: Know that a federal judge confirmed North Dakota counties must count mail-in ballots postmarked before Election Day, even if received after.
  2. Step 2: Make sure your ballot is postmarked before Election Day to protect your vote.
  3. Step 3: If your mail ballot is rejected or not counted, call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).
  4. Step 4: Contact your local election office / county auditor to ask about curing or resolving the issue.
  5. Step 5: Document dates, postmarks, and any communications.

Resources:

Emergency Contacts:

  • Election Protection Hotline 1-866-687-8683 — Call if your mail ballot is rejected

Absentee Ballot Denied

  1. Step 1: North Dakota allows absentee voting without an excuse — confirm your request was submitted before the deadline (ballot request deadline for the Nov. 3, 2026 election was listed as Nov. 2, 2026 — verify exact date).
  2. Step 2: If your absentee ballot request is denied, contact your local election office immediately.
  3. Step 3: Call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) for help.
  4. Step 4: If you cannot resolve it in time, ask about voting in person during early voting or on Election Day.
  5. Step 5: Keep copies of your request and any responses.

Resources:

Emergency Contacts:

  • Election Protection Hotline 1-866-687-8683 — Call if your absentee ballot request is denied or delayed

Denied During Early Voting

  1. Step 1: Confirm early voting dates — for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election, early voting starts Oct. 19, 2026 (contact your local election office to confirm site and hours).
  2. Step 2: Bring valid ID showing your name, current residential address, and date of birth.
  3. Step 3: If denied, ask why and request the Voter’s Affidavit option if the issue is ID/eligibility related.
  4. Step 4: Call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).
  5. Step 5: Document the denial with names, times, and details.

Resources:

Emergency Contacts:

  • Election Protection Hotline 1-866-687-8683 — Call if denied during early voting

Resources & Contacts

Official State Resources

National Voting Rights Resources

Social Media Contacts

  • Facebook: LWVND (League of Women Voters of North Dakota) (advocacy)

Sources

This guide was compiled from the following sources:

  • https://vote.gov/
  • https://www.fvap.gov/
  • https://vip.sos.nd.gov/
  • https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/voter-id
  • https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/absentee-and-early-voting
  • https://866ourvote.org/
  • https://www.vote411.org/north-dakota
  • https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/north-dakota
  • https://www.sos.nd.gov/elections/voter/voting-north-dakota
  • https://ballotpedia.org/Voter_ID_in_North_Dakota
  • https://www.hhs.nd.gov/vital/birth
  • https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/north_dakota.htm
  • https://www.nd.gov/eforms/Doc/sfn08140.pdf
  • https://mapresearch.org/democracy-map/proof-of-citizenship-requirements-for-registration
  • https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/states-already-enacting-harmful-save-act-policies-requiring-proof
  • https://www.starkcountynd.gov/passport_information
  • https://ballotpedia.org/Proof_of_citizenship_requirements_for_voter_registration_by_state
  • https://www.williamsnd.com/elections
  • https://www.vote.org/north-dakota
  • https://fairelectionscenter.org/map/north-dakota

Last Updated: 2026-09-16 | Generated by Patriot Agent Voting Rights Knowledge Base

Verify all information with official government sources before acting.

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