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North Dakota | Voting Guide
Voting Guide
North Dakota
Registration Deadlines and Election Dates
Voter Registration: North Dakota does not require voters to register to cast a ballot.
2024 Election Information
Republican Presidential Primary: March 4 (please check the political party’s website for additional information)
Democratic Presidential Primary: April 6 (please check the political party’s website for additional information)
Non-Presidential Primary: June 11
General Election: November 5
Official Election Websites
More election information at
Register at School or Home
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family's home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location. If you vote in North Dakota, you cannot vote in another state
What Type of ID Do I Need to Register?
North Dakota does not require voters to be registered to cast a ballot.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Vote?
In-person and mail voters in North Dakota are required to present an ID that bears the voter’s name, current residential address, and date of birth. If requesting an absentee ballot, you must submit a copy of an acceptable form of ID with your mail ballot application.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
Current and valid North Dakota driver’s license or state ID
Tribal government or Bureau of Indian Affairs issued ID
Long-term care certificate (provided by North Dakota facility)
If the valid ID does not include the voter’s birthday or current North Dakota residential address, supplemental documentation must be provided. For students at higher education institutions, supplemental documentation may include a printed document with your name, address, and date of birth issued by your school. This document must contain the school’s letterhead or seal, along with a student ID card issued by the institution containing your photo and legal name. A list of other supplemental documents is available at: vip.sos.nd.gov/IDRequirements.aspx
If a voter uses a voter ID indicating that they are a noncitizen, they will be able to cast a provisional ballot but will be required to show a driver’s license or nondriver ID confirming their citizenship in person or electronically prior to the canvassing board meeting occurring on the 13th day after Election Day for their ballot to be counted.
Where Do I Vote?
Make a plan. Look up your voting site and hours at:
How Can I Vote?
By Mail: Any qualified elector of the state may vote by mail in North Dakota. To request an absentee ballot, you may apply online or by using a mail-in form. Online applications must be printed, signed, and returned to county election officials.
You may return the application in-person or by mail, fax, or email. North Dakota law requires submission of an absentee ballot application “in a timely manner so as to allow the applicant to receive, complete, and mail the absent voter’s ballot before the day of the election.”
Completed absentee ballots may be returned by mail or in person. For ballots returned by mail, they must be postmarked no later than the day before Election Day. For ballots returned in person, they must be received by 5:00pm on the day before Election Day.
Track your absentee ballot at:
https://vip.sos.nd.gov/AbsenteeTracker.aspx
Additionally, North Dakota law provides that “[a]ny qualified elector living with a disability that prevents the elector from reading or marking the ballot without assistance and who wishes to cast an absentee ballot may mark the electronic ballot by electronic means.” Contact your county election official for more information about applying for and using this method of voting.
Early In-Person: Counties in North Dakota may choose to open an early voting location, available to all voters in the county. Please contact your county election official to learn if your county offers early voting, as well as dates and times for early voting.
Election Day: Election Day polling locations must be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., however, local officials may extend these hours. You can check your polling hours on the North Dakota Secretary of State’s website or by contacting your county election official. If you are in line by the time polls close, you have the right to cast a ballot.
Common Questions/Concerns
Does Voting Affect my Federal Financial Aid?
Where you vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Does Voting Affect my Status as a Dependent on My Parents’ Taxes?
Being registered to vote or voting at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Does Voting impact my Tuition Status?
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register or vote in your campus community.
Will voting in North Dakota affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a full time student in North Dakota, you may be required to obtain an North Dakota driver's license and update your car’s registration, regardless of whether you register to vote there. For more information, contact the North Dakota Department of Motor Vehicles.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed North Dakota legal professional.
Last updated January 2024