North Dakota

Poll hours vary by county.   All polls must be open from 9 AM to 7 PM local time (either Central or Mountain time depending on the location); counties may open polls as early as 7 AM and close as late as 9 PM.  Details here.

Voters can find their polling location and hours here.  Options vary by county.   

How to Check Your Registration: Voters can determine whether they are registered to vote at the following link: .

You are eligible to vote in North Dakota if you:

• Are a U.S. citizen
• Are a resident of North Dakota
• Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
• Live in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election

You are NOT eligible to vote in North Dakota if:

• A judge has specifically ruled that you are not able to vote.
• You are in prison or jail for a felony conviction

Restorative Requirements

• If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.

North Dakota does not have voter registration.  US citizens who reside in ND and are 18 or older  voters can vote with required ID.  Voters must reside in a precinct for 30 days to be eligible to vote there.  

If You Want to Vote Absentee, requests may be made:

• In-Person
• By Mail

Absentee Ballots may be returned:

• In-Person
• By Mail

North Dakota Congressional, State and Judicial Primary Election

Ballot Request:

• Submitted by Mon Jun 8, 2026

Ballot Return:

• Received by Tue Jun 9, 2026

Early Voting:

• Early Voting from Contact Local Election Office to to Confirm Dates and Times

North Dakota Congressional, State and Judicial General Election

Ballot Request:

• Post Received by Sat Oct 24, 2026
• Online by Sat Oct 24, 2026
• In-Person Request by Mon Nov 2, 2026

Ballot Return:

• In-Person, Received by Tue Nov 3, 2026
• Post received by Wed Nov 4, 2026 (when postmark is missing)
• Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by Tue Nov 10, 2026

Absentee/Mail Ballots:

• Any North Dakota voter may vote absentee/by mail. No reason is required.
• Applications are available here (“Application Wizard”), here (fillable PDF), from county election offices and sometimes in other locations. (Ask your county.)
• The application deadline is the day before the election but ballots must be voted and received by the county before the polls close in that precinct, so apply early.
• Absentee ballots may be mailed or delivered to the county in person.  Some counties have drop boxes. More here.  

Early Voting Some  counties offer early in-person voting.  Check your county here. Dates and times vary by county but can only take place during the 15 days before the election.

Voter Registration

There is no voter registration in North Dakota.

Voting In-Person

You are required to show ID to vote; or, you may instead sign an affidavit or similar document. Accepted forms of ID include:

• Valid North Dakota Driver’s License
• Long Term Care ID Certificate
• Valid North Dakota Non-driver’s ID
• Valid Tribal ID

If you do not have one of the North Dakota valid IDs and need help getting ID, go to www.voteriders.org.

North Dakota is the only state without voter registration.  Eligibility to vote is based on a limited number of forms of ID. Useful summary of the voting process here.

Voters must  provide one of these ID. The ID must not be expired.

• North Dakota Driver’s license;
• North Dakota Non-Driver’s identification card (free from the Department of Transportation)
• Tribal government issued identification;  or
• Long-term care ID provided by a ND facility (if the voter does not have another form of identification listed above).

Special rules for overseas and military voters..

If the ID does not have a current North Dakota residential address or DOB, voters can supplement it with: 

• Current utility bill;
• Current bank statement;
• Check or document issued by a governmental authority (including tribal government);
• Paycheck; or
• Specific documents from an institution of higher education. 

Voters unable to provide supplemental ID at the polls may cast “set aside” ballots. They may then return to the polling place with proper ID or deliver the ID to the county within 13 days of the election.  Voters should receive instructions at the polls.

Individuals who reside within tribal reservation boundaries may use specific Tribal Identification and Supplemental Documentation forms, available here. For details, see Voting as a Tribal Member.

ND residents temporarily living abroad and active military (and dependents) living away from their ND residences may use current military ID or a passport to apply for a ballot if they do not have the usual ID.  Follow the instructions here.
Absentee/mail voters must submit ID information or copies when they apply for absentee ballots. See Application Wizard or PDF.

Voters must be resident in their precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election. Voters who moved within the state more recently are entitled to vote in the precinct they moved from.

• Voters who have moved within a precinct  continue to vote at the same location. Poll clerks update the poll book with the voter’s new address.
• Voters who have moved to a different county or precinct must vote at the prior precinct (in person or absentee/by mail) if they moved less than 30 days before Election Day.
• If the voter has moved from a different state, they are generally not eligible to vote in ND until they have lived in their precinct for 30 days.
  • In Presidential election years only, new state residents may be eligible to vote a special President- only ballot.  Special procedures apply.
  • The voter may wish to contact election authorities in their prior residence to seek an absentee ballot.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form (“FPCA”). You may include the following ID:

• U.S. Passport
• Valid Military ID
• Valid North Dakota Driver’s License
• Valid Tribal ID
• Long Term Care ID Certificate
• Valid North Dakota Non-driver’s ID

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You may include the following ID:

• U.S. Passport
• Valid North Dakota Driver’s License
• Valid Tribal ID
• Long Term Care ID Certificate
• Valid North Dakota Non-driver’s ID

Voters living abroad or serving in the military may vote by mail.  No reason is required. 

Overseas and military voters may use the regular absentee/mail process (above) or the special Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) procedure.  UOCAVA procedures include a backup ballot option – Federal Write In Ballot (FWAB)

Individuals incarcerated on a felony sentence may not vote. 

Individuals are eligible to vote if they 

• have been charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor;
• have been charged with a felony, but not convicted (for example, in pre-trial detention);
• are not currently incarcerated; or
• are on probation or parole

Individuals no longer incarcerated are eligible to vote like any other ND voter; no special steps are required.