First-Time Voters

Inquire about the availability of documents in accessible​ formats.​​
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If you registered by mail, you may have to show identification when you vote for the first time.

If you did not provide one of the required types of identification at the time you registered, and you are voting in a federal election (there are presidential or congressional candidates on the ballot), you may be asked to show one of the following: 

  • driver’s license or identification card of any state
  • passport
  • employee identification card
  • identification card provided by a commercial establishment
  • credit or debit card
  • military identification card
  • student identification card
  • health club identification card
  • insurance plan identification card or
  • public housing identification card.

Or, you can show one of the following documents. The document must include your name and address, and it must be dated since the date of the last general election:

  • utility bill
  • bank statement
  • government check
  • government paycheck
  • document issued by a governmental agency
  • sample ballot or other official elections document issued by a governmental agency for the current election
  • voter notification card issued by a governmental agency
  • public housing identification card issued by a governmental agency
  • lease or rental statement or agreement issued by a governmental agency
  • student identification card issued by a governmental agency
  • tuition statement or bill issued by a governmental agency
  • insurance plan card or drug discount card issued by a governmental agency
  • discharge certificates, pardons, or other official documents issued to the individual by a governmental agency in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence or other matter
  • public transportation authority senior citizen and disabled discount cards issued by a governmental agency
  • identification documents issued by governmental disability agencies
  • identification documents issued by government homeless shelters and other government temporary or transitional facilities
  • drug prescription issued by a government doctor or other governmental health care provider
  • property tax statement issued by a governmental agency
  • vehicle registration issued by a governmental agency or
  • vehicle certificate of ownership issued by a governmental agency.

For more information, visit the Secretary of State’s website.​