Time is ticking away for educational institutions and government agencies in North Carolina who need to get their student and employee photo IDs in order for voting. The State Board of Elections issued a reminder that applications must be submitted by April 1, to have these IDs approved for use in elections for 2025 and 2026. This call to action is marked as the last chance before the 2025 municipal elections hit the calendar.
With dates set for the municipal elections in September, October, and November of 2025, and the primary and general elections in 2026, it's imperative not to split the effort to ensure fair voter participation. So far, according to information available on NC State Board of Elections, only 35 educational institutions and government agencies have stepped up to the plate as of yesterday. This is a stark contrast to the over 100 IDs that were approved for the prior voting cycle.
"In 2024, the IDs of more than 100 such organizations were accepted for voting purposes," Karen Brinson Bell, State Board executive director, highlighted the gap. This statement, first reported yesterday, reveals the importance of the current application drive. As Bell stated on the NC State Board of Elections website, "We have a long way to go to reach that number, but there’s still time." The Board remains on standby to offer the necessary help to schools and governmental entities navigating the approval process.
For institutions with IDs previously approved in 2023 or 2024, the process might prove to be less cumbersome, not requiring to completely start from scratch. If the IDs include an expiration date and have not changed since the last approval, a "Statement of No Changes" box on the form relieves the need for a new image submission, as per the NC State Board of Elections. This streamlined process should be seized as a tool to facilitate continuity.
Public colleges and universities, which plan to put forward both student and employee ID cards for approval, need to remember to submit distinct approval forms for each type. The effort can seem daunting, but the Board is methodical, setting a plan to review submissions in April 2025 and thereafter publicise the approved IDs, which will remain valid through December 31, 2026.
North Carolina's photo ID law requires voters to present valid identification at the polls, with a range of IDs accepted, including driver’s licenses and specially approved student and employee IDs.
