Turning 18 years old means a lot of different things in The United States of America. You’re officially and legally an adult, you can buy lottery tickets, and you can exercise your right to VOTE. Voting is so important in this country, especially for young people. Casting a vote means you are doing your part to have your voice heard on the issues that matter to you, just like Taylor Swift told us.
Voting can be intimidating, especially for the first time. There seem to be so many rules and regulations, and you have to know what you need to bring with you, where to go, and when you can vote. The rules are different in each state, which can make it even more confusing when finding information online. Vote.org is an amazing resource, with everything you need to know and a completely user-friendly interface, broken down by state.
A driver’s license is an acceptable form of voter identification in most states, but each state has a different requirement on whether it needs to be a valid, unexpired license and what you can bring as an alternate form of ID. Check our list below for voter ID rules.
If you do have an out-of-date license, and you don’t have a way to renew it before voting day, there are other options, such as an in-state college ID, a US passport, or other government-issued identifications. To renew your license, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles website for your state to find out how to renew in person or online.
Find your state below for a list of valid forms of voter identification, including a drivers license:
Alabama - Unexpired Alabama driver’s license, voter ID, state or federal employee ID, US passport, student or employee photo ID from a college or university in Alabama, US military photo ID card, Tribal photo ID card is necessary.
Alaska - Valid driver’s license, birth certificate, US passport, current utility bill or bank statement with voter’s name and address, hunting or fishing license, or any unexpired photo ID is required.
Arizona - For option 1, valid government issued ID is required, but if you don’t have one, you can bring two of the following for option 2: a current utility bill, bank statement, vehicle registration, Indian census card, Arizona vehicle insurance card, or your voter registration. If your address isn’t current on your government issued ID, you can go with option 3: anything from option 2 plus the ID with the out-of-date address.
Arkansas - Photo ID issued by the US, state of Arkansas, or a college in Arkansas (such as a driver’s license, passport, military ID, public benefit card, or student ID) is required. If you don’t have a photo ID, you can still cast a provisional ballot that will be counted if you sign a sworn statement and provide ID by the following Monday.
California - Current and valid photo identification that includes your name and photograph is acceptable. Current utility bills, government checks, student IDs, insurance cards, and any form of government document that includes your name and address can be used as well.
Colorado - Valid ID that includes a name and Colorado address can be used, including driver’s license, passport, government employee ID card, US military ID card. Current utility bill, bank statement or paycheck, student ID, veteran ID, or your birth certificate are also acceptable.
Connecticut - Any form of ID that shows your name and address, name and signature, or name and photo can be used. If you cannot present an ID, you’ll be required to sign a brief statement confirming your identity.
Delaware - You are not required to show ID to vote in person in Delaware, but one of the following will speed up the process: current photo ID or signed social security card, polling place card, or vehicle registration, or any similar document that identifies you by photo or signature.
District of Columbia - If you’re not voting for the first time in DC, you don’t need to provide ID to vote in person. If you registered to vote by mail and you’re voting in DC for the first time, one of the following is necessary: a government-issued photo ID or a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student housing statement/tuition bill, homeless shelter occupancy statement, lease, or other document that shows your name and address.
Florida - Valid Florida drivers license or any government-issued photo ID that includes your signature is required.
Georgia - Valid forms of identification include any government-issued ID, student photo ID issued by a Georgia public college, university, or technical school, or valid tribal photo ID.
Hawaii - A current driver’s license or state ID card or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or another government document that shows your name and address is required.
Idaho - Any valid government-issued photo ID will work. If you don’t have an ID, you can still cast a ballot by signing a sworn statement at the polling place swearing to your identity.
Illinois - If you’re not voting for the first time in Illinois, you don’t need to provide ID to vote by in person. If you registered to vote by mail, are voting for the first time, you will need documentation that shows your name and address, or a student ID and mail postmarked to you at your residence.
Indiana - Your identification must meet the following 4 requirements when you vote: displays your photo, displays your name, has an expiration date that shows the ID hasn’t expired or expired after November 8, 2016 (Military ID is not required to have an expiration date), and is issued by Indiana or the US government.
Iowa - Acceptable forms of ID include: valid Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID, US passport, military ID, veterans ID, or voter ID Card.
Kansas - One of the following forms of unexpired photo ID is necessary: any government-issued ID, Kansas student ID, or ID card issued by an Indian tribe.
Kentucky - A drivers license, Social Security card, US government-issued ID, Kentucky government-issued ID, a credit card, or any ID with your picture and signature.
Louisiana - If it’s not your first time voting, a Louisiana drivers license or another generally recognized photo ID that shows your name and signature is required. If it is your first time, you will also need to bring a photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, or another government document that shows your name and address in order to vote.
Maine - If you’ve voted before in Maine, you don’t need to provide ID. If this is your first time voting and when registering you didn’t provide your Maine drivers license, state ID card, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, you may need to show one of these to vote.
Maryland - If you’ve voted before in Maryland, you don’t need to provide ID. If this is your first time voting and when registering you didn’t provide your Maryland drivers license, state ID card, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, you may need to show one of these to vote.
Massachusetts - If asked to show ID, a government-issued ID, utility bill, signed lease, rent receipt, or other document showing your name and address is required.
Michigan - Any government-issued ID, student ID, tribal ID, or other generally recognized photo ID will be necessary. If you don’t have a photo ID card, you may sign a sworn statement to that effect.
Minnesota - If your voter registration is current and active, you do not need to show ID to vote.
Mississippi - Any government-issued photo ID, student ID, or tribal ID is necessary to vote.
Missouri - A non-expired , government-issued photo ID is required.
Montana - If you’ve voted in Montana before, you don’t need to provide ID to vote early. If you’re voting for the first time, take a photo ID and a document that shows your name and current address.
Nebraska - If you’re voting for the first time, you will need to show any current photo ID or a document that shows your name and address, such as a utility bill, government check, or paycheck.
Nevada - If you’ve voted in Nevada before, you do not need to show your ID . If you’re a first-time voter, a current photo ID that shows your address or a current utility bill, paycheck, or government check.
New Hampshire - Any government-issued photo ID or student photo ID can be used to vote.
New Jersey - If you’ve voted in New Jersey before, you do not need to show your ID. If you’ve never voted before, you need to show a current photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck.
New Mexico - Most voters aren’t required to show ID for state elections, but some jurisdictions, including Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, require voter ID. If you’re voting for the first time, you should take a photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, student ID, or tribal ID with you to vote.
New York - If you’ve voted in a federal election in New York before, you don’t need to provide ID to vote in person. If you’re voting for the first time, you should take a photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or student ID with you to vote.
North Carolina - If you’re not voting for the first time in North Carolina, you don’t need to provide ID to vote in person. If it is your first time, you will need to provide a current and valid photo ID, military ID, or a document that includes your name and address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check.
North Dakota - You will need to show an ID that shows your name, address, and date of birth, such as a current drivers license, tribal ID, utility bill, paycheck, or government document.
Ohio - In Ohio, you will need an unexpired Ohio drivers license , government ID, military ID, or document with current address, such as a utility bill, paycheck, bank statement, or government check.
Oklahoma - You will need to present a current OK drivers license or other government-issued ID.
Oregon - No ID is required.
Pennsylvania - First-time voters need to show a government-issued ID, student ID, employee ID, or a current utility bill, firearm permit, bank statement, paycheck, or government check.
Rhode Island - A drivers license, passport, student photo ID, other government-issued ID, birth certificate, or social security card is required.
South Carolina - A government-issued photo ID is required.
South Dakota - A government-issued photo ID is required.
Tennessee - A government-issued photo ID required. They can be expired or unexpired . A student ID will not be accepted.
Texas - Your photo ID may not be expired for over 4 years. Any government-issued photo ID will be accepted
Utah - A government-issued photo ID is required to vote. If you don’t have a photo ID, two of the following are required: current utility bill, birth certificate, social security card, government check, current hunting or fishing license, current vehicle registration, naturalization documents, Medicare or Medicaid card, or a student or employee ID.
Vermont - If you’ve voted in Vermont before, you do not need to show ID. If you’re voting for the first time and did not provide ID when you registered, a valid photo ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or another government document that shows your name and address.
Virginia - You will need to show a government-issued photo ID or tribal ID.
Washington - A photo ID is required to vote. Drivers license, student ID, tribal ID, or employer ID card will all be accepted.
West Virginia - In West Virginia, one of the following valid forms of ID is required: government-issued ID, student ID, Medicare or social security card, birth certificate, hunting or fishing permit, current utility bill, health insurance card, or government document showing name and address.
Wisconsin - A government-issued photo ID is required, but they can be expired . The following IDs can be used as well, but they must be unexpired : veteran ID, naturalization certificate, WI driving receipt, and a student ID.
Wyoming - If you’re not voting for the first time in Wyoming, or if you registered in person, you don’t need to provide ID to vote in person. If you registered by mail, you will need to provide a government-issued ID, student ID, employee ID, or a current utility bill, firearm permit, bank statement, paycheck, or government check.
All of these rules are for voting in person, either early or on voting day. Voting absentee by mail is different in each state, and you can find all of the information for your state at vote.org .