You’ve chosen to vote in NORTH DAKOTA!
You’ve chosen to vote in NORTH DAKOTA!
② Request your vote-by-mail ballot
FAQ and troubleshooting for North Dakota issues
Where should I have my vote-by-mail ballot sent?
I don't have a valid ND State ID/Driver’s License
The name or address on my ND State ID is incorrect/out of date
I need to print/mail a paper form but do not have access to a printer
⓪ What you will need
- North Dakota ID/Driver’s License >>>don't have it?<<<
- Home address (where you would like to be registered to vote) and county (lookup my county)
- Mailing address (where you would like your vote-by-mail ballot to be sent) >>>how to choose<<<
① Get registered
North Dakota does not register voters. If you are an eligible resident of North Dakota, you are able to vote in this year’s election as long as you provide acceptable identification.
>>>What if I'm registered somewhere else?<<<
② Request your vote-by-mail ballot
Prefer to vote in-person? That may be a problem this year, and we recommend requesting a vote-by-mail ballot even if you want to vote in-person. You can take your vote-by-mail ballot to your polling place (during early voting or on election day) where they will void it and let you vote in-person or let you cast your mail ballot on the spot (note that many states require you to show valid photo ID when voting in person!). Also, if you don't receive your vote-by-mail ballot in time, you can still go to the polls in-person.
How to request an absentee ballot:
Mailing address - send my ballot where? Given the uncertainty of where you may be living due to COVID, don't have your vote-by-mail ballot sent to your campus housing address. If it arrives there and the residence hall is closed, nobody will be able to retrieve it. Instead, send to yourself at the address of a friend or relative with a stable address. They can mail it to you wherever you are. However ballots can't be "forwarded"; they have to be re-mailed in an outer envelope with new stamps.
Request by mail:
- Fill out the Absentee Ballot Application Wizard online with the requested information, then print out and sign in black or blue pen (make sure your signature matches the signature you have on your ID).
- Keep in mind that your “residential address” is where your vote will be counted while the “ballot delivery address” is where your ballot will be sent, if different from your residential address.
- Attach a copy of your ND State ID to your completed application
- Mail the completed application to your county election official
Common Issues:
- What if I don't have a ND Driver's License/State ID and/or SSN? >>see below<<
- What if I need to print/mail but don’t have access to a printer? >>see below<<
- What if the name or address on my ID is incorrect? >>see below<<
③ What happens next?
- You can track the status of your mail ballot by using the ND Ballot Tracker here. It can take up to 10 days to get your ballot. You can also call your County Auditor.
- After receiving your ballot, follow the instructions carefully (errors can lead to ballot rejection!)
- Sign on all lines that require a signature and match the signature that appears on your ND State ID/Driver’s License, if applicable; some states also require mail-in ballot envelopes to be signed, and others require witness signatures
- Properly seal your ballot according to the instructions
- Don't mark anywhere outside of the signature or voting sections
- If requested, include a copy of your ID along with your mail ballot
- If you do not have a ND State ID/Driver’s License, see the list of acceptable alternative ID documents here.
- No printer? Contact us!
- Make sure your printed name and signature match your driver’s license
- Return your ballot via mail (or deliver in-person). Most ballots come with a pre-addressed, postpaid return envelope, but if not, we will send you a stamp and envelope!
More information
- Visit North Dakota’s SOS site for information about voting in ND.
- Help me find what’s on my ballot: You can use BallotReady or League of Women Voters, or check out ND’s personalized voter information page.
- I want text reminders about important voting dates coming up! Sign up at Turbovote
- Questions? See the FAQ, or you can get in touch with a Voter Registration Genius and/or set up a one-on-one appointment for help via phone or video conferencing.
FAQ and troubleshooting for North Dakota issues
(See also the general FAQ for non-state specific questions)
Where should I have my vote-by-mail ballot sent?
Given the uncertainty of where you may be living due to COVID, instead of having your vote-by-mail ballot sent to your campus address you may want to have it sent to a friend or relative's home. They can get it to you wherever you are. Ballots can't be "forwarded"; they have to be re-mailed in an outer envelope.
I don't have a valid ND State ID/Driver’s License
To receive an absentee ballot you must provide a copy of a valid form of ID; you can request a non-driver state ID at no cost, but it must be done in person.
If you are unable to obtain a ND state-issued photo ID prior to sending in your ballot (or voting in person), you can attach a copy of an alternative form of identification (see the “Supplemental Documentation” section) that shows your name and home address when submitting your ballot.
The name or address on my ND State ID is incorrect/out of date
Most ND driver's licenses and non-driver ID cards can be updated online at no cost (or by calling the DOT at 701-328-4353). The card does not need to be replaced in order to update the voter record.
Tribal IDs are updated with your tribal office. For those tribes that have agreed to share data with the Secretary of State, the ID does not need to be replaced. For all other tribes, the ID must be replaced to reflect the change.
If you are unable to obtain or update your ID prior to submitting your ballot, you may submit an alternative form of identification (see the “What if I am unable to update my ID before voting?” section).
I need to print/mail a paper form but do not have access to a printer
Not a problem! Please email us at vote@colum.edu with all the documents and/or proof of residence and identification requirements you need printed and we’ll print them and mail them to you.
About this page/project
- This page was last updated August 19, 2020. If you find any errors please email us.
- This is a project of Columbia Votes at Columbia College Chicago, in association with Ask Every Student (studentvoting.org).
- Feel free to use this form at other schools! It’s best to link to the original Google Doc as we will continue updating it through election day (if you make a copy, you won’t have access to the current information).
- Questions? Contact us — we're friendly!