Voter ID

North Carolina voters are required to show photo identification when voting in person or by absentee ballot. The DukeCard Office, in partnership with Duke Votes, will assist eligible students with obtaining a state-approved physical identification card to vote in the upcoming November Election.

Duke University’s physical DukeCard and Duke Student Voter ID Card are approved by the NC State Board of Elections as a valid form of identification for students who are eligible to vote. The mobile DukeCard has not been approved as a valid form of photo identification.

Older physical DukeCards in circulation without an expiration date can still be used as an acceptable form of ID for voting (see here for guidance from the State Board of Elections). DukeCards that are printed beginning in August 2024 will be an ID-only version with an expiration date and will not contain funds or access to facilities. These cards cannot be used in place of the Mobile DukeCard.

Identification cards will be provided to students for free. Undergraduate students who never received a physical DukeCard (Sophomore Students Class of 2027) received an email with information on how to pick up their card. Please note that pickup instructions have changed. For any Sophomores needing to pick up a physical DukeCard for voting, we’ve made it easier! During early voting, you can pick up your card at the Wilder Building (next to Karsh) on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After early voting ends before Election Day, any remaining cards will be available at the DukeCard Office.

For any other students needing a physical DukeCard to use as a photo ID to vote (including Graduate and Professional Students), you can get one printed either at the Wilder Building during early voting or at the DukeCard Office on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Picking up a card will take less than five minutes. Students are required to show a government-issued ID when picking up their card.

The physical DukeCard and Duke Student Voter ID Card are offered in addition to other types of identification permitted by state law for use by voters. Acceptable forms of ID include any of the following:

Any of the following, regardless of whether the ID contains an expiration or issuance date:

  • Military or veterans ID card issued by the U.S. government
  • Tribal enrollment card issued by a tribe recognized by the State or federal government
  • ID card issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the State of North Carolina for a public assistance program

More information on North Carolina’s voter photo ID requirement can be found on this infosheet or on the NC State Board of Elections website.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I request an ID card for voting?

Sophomore students will receive an email with information on how to pick up their card. Upperclassmen who lost their card, or graduate and professional students can make an appointment to pick up a card at the DukeCard office.

Do I need to submit a new photo for a new card?

You do not need to submit a new photo for your card, but must have an approved photo in the DukeCard system.

What do I need to bring with me when I pick up my DukeCard or Duke Student Voter ID?

You must bring a government-issued ID for card pickup.

Where is the DukeCard Office located?

The DukeCard Office is located on campus at 012 Telecom Drive, Durham, NC 27708 (rear entrance of the Telecom building under the blue awning off Research Drive). The DukeCard Office is open from 9am-5pm. Make an appointment here.

Does my DukeCard or Duke Student Voter ID Card expire?

Beginning August 2024, physical DukeCards that are distributed will  contain an expiration date consistent with a student’s expected graduation date. The Duke Student Voter ID card also contains an expiration date. Older DukeCards in circulation without an expiration date can still be used as a form of ID at the polls. See here for additional guidance from the State Board of Elections.

I'm a Duke employee. Can I use my DukeCard as a form of ID to vote?

No. The DukeCard and Duke Student Voter ID Card were only approved for students.

Do I need to show proof of ID if I vote by mail?

Yes. Voters who vote by mail must include a photocopy of an acceptable ID inside the “photo ID envelope” that comes with their ballot.

What if I don’t have an ID when I go to vote?

You may proceed in one of the following ways:

  • Vote with an ID Exception Form and a provisional ballot, or
  • Vote with a provisional ballot and return to their county board of elections office with their photo ID by the day before county canvass. (For municipal elections in September and October, this deadline is the Monday following Election Day. For all other elections, the deadline is the second Thursday following Election Day.)
What is the North Carolina law that allows me to use the Duke Voter ID to vote?

N.C.G.S. § 163-166.17(a)

North Carolina State Board of Elections Resources