Heading to the polls without your wallet? Depending on your state, you might still be able to cast a ballot. Voter identification rules vary significantly across the country, and in a dozen states plus the District of Columbia, no ID is required at all.
As of October 2026, the states that do not require voters to show identification at the polls are California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. In these states, as long as you are already registered and have voted at that polling place before, you can vote without showing any ID.
However, even in these states, first-time voters may need to show some form of identification, and registering to vote typically requires providing some proof of identity. What counts as acceptable ID can be surprisingly broad. In D.C., for example, you can use a driver's license, a student tuition bill, or a residential lease. In New Jersey, even a store membership card like a Costco card works. Local election officials still recommend bringing some ID just in case.
Most other states are stricter, requiring a photo ID to vote. That list includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. In these states, if you lack a photo ID, you may still be able to cast a provisional ballot, provided your identity can be verified. Alabama even allows voters to be "positively identified by two election officials" and sign a sworn affidavit to vote without a photo ID.
Some states offer alternatives. Michigan and Texas allow voters without a photo ID to sign an affidavit and still vote. In Iowa, if you forget your ID, another registered voter can attest for you, with both signing an oath.
A handful of states accept non-photo IDs. Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming will accept IDs without a photo, though you generally need to be pre-registered. Arizona has a complex system: you can present one photo ID, two non-photo IDs with a current address, or a photo ID plus a document with your address. Montana accepts a photo ID or other documents showing your name and address.
Vote-by-mail states have their own rules. In Hawaii, all registered voters get a ballot by mail, but you need a driver's license or state ID and Social Security number to register. Oregon doesn't require a photo to register, while Utah does or requires two alternative IDs. Washington, also primarily vote-by-mail, requires ID for in-person voting or a signed ballot declaration.
The federal landscape could have been very different had the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act passed. The House approved it in February, but it stalled in the Senate in June. President Trump initially refused to sign bipartisan housing legislation until the SAVE Act passed, but later conceded it was "probably not going to happen." If enacted, the SAVE Act would have mandated additional documentation like a passport or birth certificate for voter registration. Republicans argued it was needed to prevent voter fraud, while Democrats warned it would disenfranchise millions.
For those unsure about their state's requirements, checking with local election officials is advised, especially as same-day registration is available in many states, which may have its own ID rules. Also, be aware that polling place attire rules vary, and security measures are being scrutinized in some states.
