Pierce County Auditor Karin Fursather reminds voters that they need valid identification (ID) to vote in the upcoming general election. State law applies to absentee/mail-in ballots as well as voting in person on Election Day, Nov. 4th.

Fursather said it’s especially important for absentee/mail-in voters to act by Oct. 5, if they do not have an up-to-date, valid form of ID. “Your ID needs to prove that you are eligible to vote, which means showing you’ve been a resident of your voting precinct for the 30 days prior to the election,” she said. “If you’ve moved recently, you need to update your records and ID, or you may have to return to your old precinct to vote.”

More voters are expected to turn out for the general election, so it is important for all voters to be sure they have one of the five forms of valid identification: North Dakota driver’s license, North Dakota non-driver’s ID, tribal-issued ID, student ID certificate or long-term care ID certificate.

The ID must include the voter’s name, current residential address (no PO Boxes) and date of birth. Not all tribal-issued IDs include all the required information, so it is important to check them ahead of time.

Absentee/Mail-in voters are required to write down their ID number on or include a copy of their student or long-term care ID certificate with their ballot application, while those voting in person on Election Day will show or provide their ID to the poll workers.

Anyone with election questions is encouraged to use the vote.nd.gov website developed by North Dakota Secretary of State’s office or call the county auditor’s office at 776-5225 for help.

“We really want to get the word out about this,” Fursather said. “Every eligible voter has the right to vote, and to know that every other voter is also eligible to vote.”

– Pierce County Auditor’s Office