Can I Use My College Student ID to Vote?

- Twenty of the 37 states requiring an ID to vote accept some form of a college student ID.
- Georgia only allows public college and university student IDs.
- Most student ID-accepting states require the ID to have a photo. Other states may require an expiration date or a signature.
- The North Carolina State Board of Elections announced another nine valid college IDs on Aug. 14, making the total viable colleges, universities, and community colleges to 68.
Most states require some form of ID to participate in an election. If your state does, there’s a good chance you may be able to vote with your college student ID in November’s general election.
According to the Voting Rights Lab, an organization tracking voting laws in each state, 37 states require or request some form of identification to cast a ballot.
Within these voter ID states, 20 allow college students to use their school IDs as valid voter ID. Most require a photo on the student ID, while others add requirements like a signature, expiration date, or issuance by a specific institution.
Only two states — Tennessee and Idaho — expressly prohibit student IDs as acceptable forms of identification to vote.
If you live in one of these states, or another that doesn’t expressly permit student IDs for voting, you might be able to use a:
- Driver’s license
- Valid U.S. passport
- Government-issued ID (non-higher education)
- Concealed carry license
- Signed affidavit
- Bank statements
Read on for the specific rules in states that do allow you to use your college student ID to vote.
Which States Allow You to Use Your Student ID to Vote?
2024 Candidates’ Stances on Higher Education Issues
Interested in learning more about where the 2024 presidential and vice-presidential candidates stand on the top issues in higher education? Check out BestColleges’ coverage of where each candidate went to college and their views on higher education:
Republican Candidates: Former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance
Democratic Candidates: Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
Independent Candidate: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.