IMPORTANT: Voting laws change frequently. Always verify information with official government sources before acting. This guide was last updated: 2026-07-30. 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 Photo ID Required to Register: Yes Accepted IDs: North Dakota driver’s license, North Dakota non-driver’s ID card, Tribal ID or Tribal Letter, Long-Term Care Certificate

Registration Links

• Register Online
• Mail-In Registration Form
• In-Person Registration Locations
• Overseas / Military Voter Registration
• Federal FVAP / UOCAVA Registration
• Vote.gov Official Registration Portal

Notes: North Dakota is the only state without voter registration. To vote, you must present valid ID with your name, current North Dakota residential address, and date of birth. You can vote during early voting period or on Election Day without prior registration.

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: $15.00 per copy Standard Processing Time: 3 to 5 business days Expedited Option: Same-day processing available if request received by 10:00 a.m. Central Time via Federal Express or UPS; expedited next-business-day processing available for additional $15.00-$30.00 express delivery fee

How to Request

• Request Online
• By Mail: Vital Records 600 East Blvd Ave, Dept 301 Bismarck, ND, 58505

Notes: Records available from 1870 to present. Proof of identification required. Online orders can be picked up at office (usually ready in less than 2 hours). Certified copies cannot be faxed. Both birth request application and notarized authorization form required for third-party requests.

Proof of Citizenship Documents

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

Accepted Documents

• verify – no specific proof of citizenship requirements found for North Dakota

How to Obtain Citizenship Proof

North Dakota does not require proof of citizenship to register or vote. However, for obtaining US citizenship documents generally, US citizens can obtain proof through: birth certificate from state vital records office, US passport through passport acceptance facilities, or naturalization certificate from USCIS for naturalized citizens.

For US Citizens Abroad

US citizens abroad can obtain proof of citizenship through US embassies and consulates for passport services, or by contacting the State Department for certified copies of birth certificates or consular reports of birth abroad.

Notes: North Dakota does not require voter registration and does not have proof of citizenship requirements for voting. The state only requires identification that includes name, current North Dakota residential address, and date of birth to vote. Recent law HB 156 became effective March 31, 2025, but specific impacts on citizenship documentation requirements are unclear from available sources.

How to Vote

Voting in Person

Photo ID Required: Yes Accepted IDs: North Dakota driver’s license, North Dakota nondriver’s identification card, ID issued by tribal government, long-term care identification certificate Polls Open: 7am-7pm (varies by location – some open between 7am-9am) Find Your Polling Place

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Step 1: Be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on Election Day
2. Step 2: Bring valid North Dakota ID, tribal ID, or current-year Long-Term Care Certificate
3. Step 3: If your address on ID is outdated, bring document showing current address (lease, utility bill, bank statement)
4. Step 4: Go to your assigned polling place on Election Day
5. Step 5: Present ID to election officials
6. Step 6: Cast your ballot

Voting by Mail

Mail voting is available — no excuse required. Application Deadline: 1 day before Election Day Ballot Return Deadline: Must be received by close of polls on Election Day Request Mail Ballot

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Step 1: Complete Absentee Ballot Application (valid January 1 to December 31 each year)
2. Step 2: Submit application by mail, in person, fax, or scanned email attachment
3. Step 3: Application must be received 1 day before Election Day
4. Step 4: Receive ballot from county auditor
5. Step 5: Complete ballot with valid ID information
6. Step 6: Return ballot by mail, county drop box, or in person to county auditor by close of polls on Election Day

Voting by Absentee Ballot

Excuse Required: No Application Deadline: 1 day before Election Day Absentee Ballot Application

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Step 1: Complete Absentee Ballot Application form
2. Step 2: Submit application by mail, in person, fax, or scanned email
3. Step 3: Must reapply each year (applications valid January 1 to December 31)
4. Step 4: Receive ballot from county auditor
5. Step 5: Complete ballot and return by mail, county drop box, or in person by close of polls on Election Day

Early Voting

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

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Step 1: Check if your county offers early voting (Morton, Burleigh, Stutsman, Ward, Cass, Grand Forks and Stark counties offer early voting)
2. Step 2: Find early voting locations through your county website
3. Step 3: Bring valid North Dakota ID, tribal ID, or Long-Term Care Certificate
4. Step 4: Vote at designated early voting location during specified hours

Voting Laws & Legal Resources

North Dakota is unique among U.S. states in that it does not require voter registration, but voters must present valid identification to vote. To vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on Election Day, and a North Dakota resident. You must present a form of ID that shows your name, residential address, and birth date. Acceptable IDs include North Dakota driver’s licenses, tribal IDs, or current-year Long-Term Care Certificates from qualified nursing homes. The state’s voter ID law has been the subject of significant litigation, particularly regarding its impact on Native American voters who may lack residential addresses. As a result of court settlements, Native Americans without qualifying voter ID can mark their home location on a map, and the state provides free non-driver photo IDs on reservations within 30 days of elections.

Recent Law Changes

• 2020: Settlement agreement reached regarding voter ID requirements for Native Americans
• Impact: Native American voters without qualifying voter ID can now mark their home on a map and receive free non-driver photo IDs on reservations

Voting Rights Law Firms

• Robins Kaplan LLP – Timothy Purdon — verify (Tribal voting rights, served as pro bono counsel for Spirit Lake Nation and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in voter ID challenges)
• Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PLLC — verify (Election law, represents presidential campaigns, elected officeholders, political committees)

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: Document the specific reason you were denied (lack of ID, address issues, etc.)
2. Step 2: If denied due to ID issues, ask about signing a Voter’s Affidavit to vote
3. Step 3: If poll worker refuses affidavit option, ask to speak with election inspector
4. Step 4: Call Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE for immediate assistance
5. Step 5: Document names of poll workers and time of incident

Resources:

• Election Protection Hotline — 866-687-8683
• North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project — verify
• League of Women Voters North Dakota — verify

Emergency Contacts:

• Election Protection Hotline 866-687-8683 — Call immediately for real-time voting assistance
• North Dakota Secretary of State 701-328-4146 — For state election official assistance

Denied at the Polling Place

1. Step 1: Ask for provisional ballot if available
2. Step 2: Request to sign a Voter’s Affidavit if you cannot provide required ID
3. Step 3: If denied affidavit option, ask to speak with election inspector immediately
4. Step 4: Document the specific reason for denial and names of poll workers
5. Step 5: Call Election Protection Hotline at 866-687-8683 while still at polling location
6. Step 6: Contact county auditor if poll workers are not following proper procedures

Provisional Ballot: North Dakota law allows voters to sign a Voter’s Affidavit under penalty of perjury if they cannot provide required ID, but provisional ballot availability varies by situation. The affidavit must be acknowledged before an election inspector.

Resources:

• Election Protection Hotline — 866-687-8683
• North Dakota Secretary of State Elections — 701-328-4146
• Campaign Legal Center — verify

Emergency Contacts:

• Election Protection Hotline 866-687-8683 — Call immediately from polling location
• County Auditor verify — Contact local county election official
• Secretary of State Election Hotline 701-328-4146 — For state-level election issues

Mail Ballot Denied or Not Received

1. Step 1: Determine if ballot was rejected due to signature verification issues
2. Step 2: Contact county election office immediately to understand rejection reason
3. Step 3: Ask about opportunity to cure ballot defects if allowed
4. Step 4: If within timeline, request new absentee ballot if possible
5. Step 5: Plan to vote in person if mail ballot cannot be resolved

Resources:

• Election Protection Hotline — 866-687-8683
• Campaign Legal Center — verify
• North Dakota Secretary of State — 701-328-4146

Emergency Contacts:

• County Election Office verify — Contact immediately about ballot rejection
• Election Protection Hotline 866-687-8683 — For guidance on ballot rejection issues

Absentee Ballot Denied

1. Step 1: Contact county auditor to understand reason for absentee ballot denial
2. Step 2: Verify you meet absentee ballot eligibility requirements
3. Step 3: If signature was issue, ask about process to verify identity
4. Step 4: Request information about deadlines for ballot correction if available
5. Step 5: Plan alternative voting method if absentee ballot cannot be resolved

Resources:

• Election Protection Hotline — 866-687-8683
• North Dakota Secretary of State — 701-328-4146
• County Auditor Office — verify

Emergency Contacts:

• County Auditor verify — Primary contact for absentee ballot issues
• Election Protection Hotline 866-687-8683 — For assistance with absentee ballot problems

Denied During Early Voting

1. Step 1: Verify that early voting is available in your county
2. Step 2: Contact county election office about early voting procedures
3. Step 3: Ensure you have proper ID as required by North Dakota law
4. Step 4: If denied due to ID issues, ask about Voter’s Affidavit option
5. Step 5: Plan to vote on Election Day if early voting is not resolved

Resources:

• Election Protection Hotline — 866-687-8683
• North Dakota Secretary of State — 701-328-4146
• County Election Office — verify

Emergency Contacts:

• Election Protection Hotline 866-687-8683 — For early voting access issues
• County Election Office verify — For local early voting information

Resources & Contacts

Official State Resources

• North Dakota Secretary of State Elections — 701-328-4146
• North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project — verify
• Election Protection Hotline — 866-687-8683

National Voting Rights Resources

• Vote.gov — Official US voting information
• Election Protection Hotline — 1-866-OUR-VOTE
• ACLU Voting Rights
• NAACP Legal Defense Fund — Voting Rights
• Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights — Election Protection
• FVAP — Federal Voting Assistance Program (overseas/military)

News Organizations to Contact

• North Dakota Monitor — verify

Social Media Contacts

• Twitter/X: verify (media/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: 2026-07-30 | Generated by Patriot Agent Voting Rights Knowledge Base

Verify all information with official government sources before acting.