Voting in North Dakota

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North Dakota offers both vote-by-mail and absentee voting, depending on the county. No excuse is needed to vote by mail or absentee in North Dakota. Certain counties in North Dakota are vote-by-mail, in which case a blank ballot is automatically sent to voters 40-50 days before the election. In counties that are not vote-by-mail, you must apply for an absentee ballot. In both cases, ballots must be postmarked or submitted in person by the day before the election.

North Dakota does not offer early or in-person absentee voting, although you can submit your absentee ballot in person after receiving it by mail.

North Dakota has open primaries. Voters are able to choose whichever party they want, but they are not allowed to cross party lines on the ballot. 17-year-olds cannot vote in the primary election even if they will be 18 by the corresponding general election.

ID is required to vote in North Dakota. ID must include the voter’s name, current North Dakota residential address, and date of birth. Valid forms of ID include:
- Driver’s license
- Nondriver’s identification card
- Tribal government issued identification (including those issued by BIA for a tribe located in North Dakota, any other tribal agency or entity, or any other document that sets forth the tribal member’s name, date of birth, and current North Dakota residential address)
- Long term care identification certificate (provided by North Dakota facility)

If an individual’s valid form of identification does not include the North Dakota residential address or date of birth, or the North Dakota residential address is not current, the individual may supplement the identification with a current utility bill; a current bank statement; a check or a document issued by a federal, state, local, or tribal government (including those issued by BIA for a tribe located in North Dakota, any other tribal agency or entity, or any other document that sets forth the tribal member’s name, date of birth, and current North Dakota residential address); or a paycheck.

If an individual is not able to show a valid form of identification but asserts qualifications as an elector, the individual may mark a ballot that will be securely set aside. When the individual provides valid identification to the proper election official prior to the meeting of the canvassing board, the set aside ballot will be presented to the canvassing board for proper inclusion in the tally.