ID's Required To Vote

Voters must present one of the following acceptable forms of identification when voting:


  • Voter confirmation documents

  • Virginia driver’s license*

  • Virginia DMV-issued photo ID

  • United States passport

  • Employer-issued photo ID

  • Student ID issued by any community college or university located in the United States

  • Other U.S. or Virginia government-issued photo ID

  • Tribal enrollment or other tribal photo ID

  • Virginia Voter Photo ID card

  • A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document containing the name and address of the voter

* Your DMV license may be used at any time. Virginia law permits an expired DMV license to be used for voting purposes.


Click here for a more detailed listing of acceptable forms of identification.


Virginia law requires all voters to provide an acceptable form of identification at the polls.

Voters arriving at the polls without an acceptable form of ID will be required to either sign an ID Confirmation Statement or vote a provisional ballot.  If a voter votes a provisional ballot, they will have until noon on the Friday following the election to deliver a copy of identification to their locality’s electoral board or sign an ID Confirmation Statement in order for their provisional ballot to be counted. Please see below in Provisional Ballot Process for Voters Who Arrive Without Identification for more information on how the provisional ballot process will work for those arriving to the polls without ID.

Provisional Ballot - A "Provisional Ballot" is a special paper ballot that is offered to any voter whose qualification to vote is in question. This may include, but is not limited to the following: 


  • A person who does not present acceptable identification when voting

  • A person whose name is not on the poll book at the precinct on Election Day and whose qualification cannot be immediately resolved

The Portsmouth Electoral Board makes a determination on all "Provisional Ballots" at the Canvass of Votes meeting, which is held the day following each election in the Office of the General Registrar, located at 801 Crawford Street, First Floor. Anyone who has voted a "Provisional Ballot" is welcome to attend this meeting.


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