How to vote in North Dakota

• Earliest day to apply: January 1, 2020
• Request deadline (online): N/A
• Request deadline (by mail): Received 1 day before Election Day
• Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
• Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked 1 day BEFORE Election Day
• Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received 1 day BEFORE Election Day

In almost all cases, you will need to sign up to vote by mail. The state won’t just mail you a ballot. Don't worry: we will walk you through it. There are only a handful of steps:

1. You submit an application to vote by mail.
2. Your Local Election Office processes your application.
3. Your Local Election Office sends your ballot to you.
4. You vote using the ballot and return it by the deadline.

1. Download the North Dakota absentee ballot application.
2. Fill out all of the required fields.
3. Print the application.
4. Sign and date your application. This is very important.
5. Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your Local Election Office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
6. If it’s close to the deadline, call your Local Election Office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
7. The deadline to apply by mail is: Received 1 day before Election Day.

1. Visit your Local Election Office.
2. Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
3. Fill out all of the required fields.
4. Sign and date your application.
5. The deadline to apply in person is: 1 day before Election Day.

1. Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
2. Sign and date the outside envelope.
3. Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your Local Election Office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided dropbox. Please check with your Local Election Office if your county has a dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
4. If you mail your ballot, it must be Postmarked 1 day BEFORE Election Day.
5. If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be Received 1 day BEFORE Election Day.
6. If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.

• ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: You must include your North Dakota driver's license number, state ID number, or tribal ID number on your absentee ballot application. If you do not have one of these numbers, or if your ID has expired, you must include a photocopy of another government issued document that shows your name and your current North Dakota address.
• ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.

• Early voting starts: Varies by county
• Early voting ends: Varies by county
• What to bring: North Dakota doesn't have voter registration, but you must show a valid ID when you vote. The only ID North Dakota considers valid are a ND driver's license or nondriver ID card, a tribal ID, or a Long Term Care certificate issued by a ND facility. If your ID does not include your current address, you will also need to show a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and full address. You cannot use a US passport as your ID unless you are currently living overseas, and you cannot use a student ID card under any circumstances.

• ID requirements for voting in person: North Dakota doesn't have voter registration, but you must show a valid ID when you vote. The only ID North Dakota considers valid are a ND driver's license or nondriver ID card, a tribal ID, or a Long Term Care certificate issued by a ND facility. If your ID does not include your current address, you will also need to show a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and full address. You cannot use a US passport as your ID unless you are currently living overseas, and you cannot use a student ID card under any circumstances.
• ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot: You must include your North Dakota driver's license number, state ID number, or tribal ID number on your absentee ballot application. If you do not have one of these numbers, or if your ID has expired, you must include a photocopy of another government issued document that shows your name and your current North Dakota address.
• ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot: Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.