The Virginia voter ID card is a free photo identification card issued by any general registrar’s office to any registered Virginia voter who does not already have another accepted form of ID for voting in person. It exists for a single purpose: giving voters who prefer to hand a photo ID to a poll worker a no-cost way to get one. If you already have a Virginia driver’s license, a passport, a work badge, or a current utility bill with your name and address, you do not need this card to vote.
Who Qualifies
You must be registered to vote in Virginia before you can apply. If you are not yet registered, you can submit a voter registration application online, by mail, or in person at your local registrar’s office. The registration deadline for most elections is 11 days before election day, though you can register after that and vote by provisional ballot.1Virginia Department of Elections. Registration
Beyond being registered, there is no income test, age cap, or documentation hurdle. The card is intended for voters who lack another accepted ID, and the Department of Elections issues it at no charge.2Virginia Department of Elections. Voter Photo Identification Card Application
How to Apply
The application has to be done in person. You cannot fax or mail it.
- Fill out the Voter Photo Identification Card Application. You can pick it up at any general registrar’s office or download it from the Virginia Department of Elections website. The form asks for your full legal name as it appears on your voter registration, your date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Leaving out the Social Security digits or other required information can get your application denied.
- Bring the completed form to any general registrar’s office in Virginia. It does not have to be the one in your home locality. Someone may help you fill out the form, and no extra paperwork is needed for that assistance, but you must personally sign or make your mark in the affirmation section if you are physically able.
- Have your photo and signature taken on site. Staff will photograph you and capture a digital signature during the visit. There is no fee for any part of the process.
The finished card is mailed to the residential address on file in Virginia’s voter registration system. The application form does not specify a delivery timeline, so ask your registrar’s office for a current estimate when you visit. If you need the card for a specific upcoming election, apply early enough to allow for the mail turnaround.2Virginia Department of Elections. Voter Photo Identification Card Application
What the Card Does and Doesn’t Do
The Virginia voter photo ID card is designed exclusively for use at the polls. It is not a driver’s license, not a general-purpose government ID, and not proof of identity for opening a bank account or boarding a plane. Its single function is to satisfy the ID request at your polling place.3Virginia Department of Elections. Do I Need an ID to Vote?
Do You Actually Need One?
Before you make the trip to a registrar’s office, check whether you already own something Virginia accepts. The list is broad. Under Virginia Code ยง 24.2-643, any one of the following works at the polls:
- A Virginia driver’s license or DMV-issued ID card, current or expired, with no cutoff on how long it has been expired. Driver privilege cards and identification privilege cards do not qualify.
- A U.S. passport or passport card.
- Any other government-issued ID from the federal government, the Commonwealth, or a Virginia locality, as long as it is genuine and not expired by more than 12 months.
- A valid student ID from any public or private high school or college in Virginia, or a photo student ID from any college in another U.S. state or territory.
- Any valid photo employee ID your employer issued in the ordinary course of business.
- The voter registration confirmation your local registrar mailed you.
- A current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document showing your name and address.
That last option is the one many Virginians overlook. A recent electric bill or bank statement with your name and address is enough. No photo required.4Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 24.2-643 – Qualified Voter Permitted to Vote; Procedures at Polling Place; Voter Identification
Virginia also recognizes tribal enrollment cards from the state’s 11 recognized tribes and resident IDs issued by government-run nursing homes.5Virginia Department of Elections. Voter Identification Chart
And if you arrive at the polls with none of these, you still vote. You can sign an ID Confirmation Statement, affirming under penalty of felony that you are the registered voter you claim to be, and then cast a regular ballot that counts the same as everyone else’s. If you don’t sign the statement, you can cast a provisional ballot and submit ID or a signed statement to your local electoral board by noon on the Friday after the election.4Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 24.2-643 – Qualified Voter Permitted to Vote; Procedures at Polling Place; Voter Identification
The voter photo ID card makes sense if you want a physical photo ID to present at the polls and don’t already have one. If any of the documents above are already in your wallet or on your kitchen counter, you can skip the registrar visit.
A Note on Absentee Voting
The card is primarily useful for in-person voting. Most absentee voters do not need to include a copy of any ID with their mail ballot. A narrow federal exception applies only to voters who registered by mail, did not include ID with their registration, and are voting for the first time in a federal election; those voters are notified with their ballot. For everyone else voting absentee, verification comes from the information you gave when you registered.6Virginia Department of Elections. Absentee and Early Voting