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Friday, Jul 10, 2026

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


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.

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.

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