Last updated on August 7th, 2024 at 09:04 am
With digital ID rollout accelerating, more and more citizens are installing their state’s mobile ID apps. These users are adopting the new ID format with the hope of leaving their wallet behind, and can already use their mobile ID for things like identity verification at the TSA, or at bars and restaurants. But with the US election coming in November, can Americans use a digital ID to vote?
Mobile ID implementation and acceptance vary significantly from state to state. Acceptance of the mobile ID for individual use cases must be determined on the state level. Currently, there are 13 states with active digital IDs, 2 in pilot, and several states with adoption in the works.
Currently, it’s only safe to rely on your mobile ID if you are voting in Louisiana or Mississippi. Despite the growing number of states launching digital IDs, many have not explicitly stated that they can or will accept mobile IDs at the polls. Non-expired state-issued ID cards are accepted for voting in all states, which theoretically should include mDLs unless stated otherwise, but there is no guarantee that election volunteers will be trained to accept them if they are not on the list of accepted documents provided by the secretary of state’s office.
Can you use a mobile ID to vote?
| State | Can you use your mDL to vote? |
|---|---|
| Arizona | Maybe |
| California | No voter ID requirements |
| Colorado | Maybe |
| Delaware | Maybe |
| Georgia | Maybe |
| Iowa | No |
| Louisiana | Yes |
| Maryland | No voter ID requirements |
| Mississippi | Yes |
| Missouri | Maybe |
| New York | No voter ID requirements |
| Ohio | No |
| Utah | No |
| Virginia | Not yet |
See below for more details about using your mobile ID to vote in upcoming elections.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Arizona?
Maybe. Arizona requires in-person voters to present an acceptable form of identification in order to successfully cast their ballot at the polls. Arizona drivers licenses and ID cards are accepted, but there is no specific metion of digital driver’s licenses.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in California?
No ID needed. California does not have voter ID laws – this means that voters are not required to show identification at the polls, except for first-time voters who registered by mail and did not proivde verification of their identification.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Colorado?
Maybe. Colorado requires in-person voters to present an acceptable form of identification in order to successfully cast their ballot at the polls. Colorado drivers licenses and ID cards are accepted, but there is no specific metion of digital driver’s licenses.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Delaware?
Maybe. Delaware requires in-person voters to present an acceptable form of identification or sign an affidavit of affirmation stating that they are the person listed on the election record. Delaware drivers licenses and ID cards are accepted, but there is no specific metion of digital driver’s licenses.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Georgia?
Maybe. Georgia requires voters to present an acceptable form of photo identification in order to successfully cast their ballot in person at the polls. Georgia drivers licenses and ID cards are accepted, but there is no specific mention of digital driver’s licenses.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Iowa?
No. Iowa requires in-person voters to present an acceptable form of identification in order to successfully cast their ballot at the polls.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Louisiana?
Yes. The Louisiana Secretary of State mentions LA Wallet, Louisiana’s digital ID app, as an accepted form of identification on election day. Louisiana requires voters to present an acceptable form of photo identification or complete a voter identification affidavit.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Maryland?
No ID needed. Maryland does not have voter ID laws – this means that voters are not required to show identification at the polls, unless they registered by mail without meeting the identification requirements or someone challenges their identity.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Mississippi?
Yes. The Mississippi Secretary of State mentions digital IDs as an accepted form of identification on election day. Mississippi requires voters to present an acceptable form of photo identification in order to successfully cast their ballot in person at the polls.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Missouri?
Maybe. Missouri law requires in-person voters to present an acceptable form of identification in order to successfully cast their ballot. Missouri drivers licenses and ID cards are accepted, but there is no specific metion of digital driver’s licenses.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in New York?
No ID needed. New York does not have voter ID laws – this means that voters are not required to show identification at the polls, unless it is their first time voting and they did not provide valid identification when registering.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Ohio?
No. Ohio requires in-person voters to present an acceptable form of identification in order to successfully cast their ballot at the polls.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Utah?
No. Utah requires in-person voters to present an acceptable form of identification in order to successfully cast their ballot at the polls, and confirmed that digital IDs cannot be used as identification for voting.
Can you use your mobile ID to vote in Virginia?
Not yet. A representative from the Virginia DMV stated that because the mobile ID app is still in the pilot phase, it cannot currently be used as voting identification. They did not specify if it will be eligible for voting use once the app is publicly available.
The future of digital IDs for voting
While states have been slow to adopt the use of mobile IDs for voting, as nationwide adoption spreads, this could be a stepping stone towards online voting. States would have already verifyied the identity for the digital credential and could use the same face-matching technology to allow citizens to cast their vote conveniently and securely. Globally, adoption of online voting is spreading as digital identity verification technology improves. In 2023, over half of the total votes for the parliamentary election in Estonia were cast over the internet.
Since each state is different and regulations can change, please be sure to refer to your state’s ID requirements before heading to the polls.
