In The Community
Student IDs Approved as Voter Identification for 2024 Elections
RALEIGH, N.C. (January 11, 2023) – Students at North Carolina's largest community college will be able to use their student ID badges to vote in primary and general elections this year. Wake Tech's student ID is among 21 recently approved by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Across the state, 121 student and government IDs have been approved for use as voter IDs.
North Carolina's photo ID requirement for voting started with municipal elections last fall. Approval means that Wake Tech students will be able to use their student IDs at the polls, starting with the March 5 primaries.
"We enthusiastically encourage our students to exercise their right to vote," said Brian Gann, Wake Tech vice president for Enrollment & Student Services. "We're glad that the approval of Wake Tech's student ID will remove a potential obstacle for some students."
Students should note that the college allows them to have their preferred name printed on their student ID, so if the name on their ID is very different from the name on their voter registration record, it may not be accepted.
Wake Tech serves more than 64,000 students each year. All students age 18 and over are encouraged to register to vote. Seventeen-year-olds can register and vote in the primary election as long as they will be 18 by the November 5 general election.
The deadline to register is 25 days before the election, although anyone who misses the deadline can still register during the early voting period. The college has several voter education and registration events planned on campus this year.
To be eligible to vote in North Carolina, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and have been a resident of the state for at least 30 days prior to the election.
A complete list of acceptable voter IDs can be found on the State Board of Elections website. Wake County voters who do not have one can get one for free at the Wake County Board of Elections.
