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Fact Brief

Can non-citizens vote in North Dakota because the state does not require voter registration?

Can non-citizens vote in North Dakota because the state does not require voter registration?
North Dakota's new "I voted" sticker, created by Haylee Senger of Bottineau.

No.

While North Dakota is the only state without voter registration, it does not rely on self-affirmation to prove citizenship. Instead, qualifications are strictly verified at the polls through mandatory voter identification laws under North Dakota Century Code 16.1-01-04.1.

The North Dakota News Cooperative is partnering with Gigafact to produce timely Fact Briefs, which are quick, evidence-based fact checks about trending claims relevant to North Dakota.

To cast a ballot, individuals must prove their identity, age, and 30-day precinct residency using a valid North Dakota driver's license, non-driver ID, tribal ID, or long-term care certificate. The North Dakota Department of Transportation issues distinct identification types to non-U.S. citizens. Crucially, North Dakota's central voter record automatically flags these specific non-citizen IDs so poll workers can prevent them from voting.

Furthermore, voters lacking compliant identification cannot simply sign an affidavit; they must cast a "set-aside" ballot, which is only counted if they present a valid, verified ID to the county auditor within 13 days of the election.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

About Fact Briefs:

Fact Briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact Briefs are written and published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network. Each brief is limited to 150 words or fewer and is not intended to provide an in-depth analysis, but rather to deliver concise, definitive answers grounded in verified information.

Sources:

North Dakota Secretary of State Forms of Voter ID
North Dakota Secretary of State 10 PRINCIPLES of NORTH DAKOTA Elections
Ballotpedia Voter ID in North Dakota

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