North Dakota citizens who are any of the following are allowed to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) :
- Uniformed service member on active duty and stationed away from home
- Spouse or dependent of a uniformed service member who is on active duty and stationed away from home
- North Dakota resident living outside the United States and their dependents
If you have questions about applying for a UOCAVA ballot, contact the election official in the North Dakota county you want a ballot for.
Voter ID Requirements
You must provide one of the following valid forms of ID when voting absentee, early at a voting location, or at a voting location on Election Day.
- North Dakota Driver's License
- North Dakota Non-Driver ID
- Tribal ID or Tribal Letter
- Long Term Care Certificate
Military ID and passports can only be used when applying for a UOCAVA ballot.
Apply for a UOCAVA Ballot
When applying for your ballot, you can choose to receive it electronically, by fax, or by mail. Ballots will be sent 46 days before the scheduled election if the application is received by that deadline. Applications received within 46 days of the election will be fulfilled within 2 business days of receiving the UOCAVA ballot request.
If you believe you won't receive your regular ballot in time to vote, you can vote a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), which is a blank write-in ballot. FWABs are available at consulates, embassies, from your Voting Assistance Officers, and online.
If your Leave & Earnings Statement (LES) shows North Dakota as your state of residence before you were stationed away from home, you can apply for a UOCAVA ballot through the North Dakota Office of the Secretary of State. If you are stationed in North Dakota but decide to vote in your home state, you can use the Federal Voter Assistance Program (FVAP) website to request a ballot.
Your military ID or U.S. passport can be used as identification when you apply for a UOCAVA ballot while stationed away from home.
NOTE: if you choose to vote absentee, at an early voting location in North Dakota, or at a North Dakota voting location on Election Day, you must provide one of the following forms of identification. You cannot use a military ID or U.S. passport for identification.
- North Dakota Driver's License
- North Dakota Non-Driver ID
- Tribal ID or Tribal Letter
- Long Term Care Certificate
If you are a U.S. citizen and North Dakota was your residence before living outside the U.S, you and your dependents can vote in North Dakota elections by applying for a UOCAVA ballot through the North Dakota Office of the Secretary of State.
Your North Dakota ID or U.S. passport can be used as identification when you apply for a UOCAVA ballot while living outside the U.S.
Return a UOCAVA Ballot
UOCAVA ballots submitted by mail should be postmarked by the day before Election Day. The deadline for returning UOCAVA ballots submitted electronically is 11:59 p.m. the day before Election Day.
- If you choose to receive your ballot by mail, a ballot will be mailed to the address specified on your UOCAVA request.
- Mark the ballot and seal it in the pre-paid postage envelope provided and mail it back to the county.
- The county auditor receives your ballot and stores it securely until the ballot can be processed and tabulated.
- If you choose to receive an electronic ballot, you will receive a secure link from your county auditor to complete your UOCAVA ballot.
- Mark your electronic ballot and return it to your county auditor.
- North Dakota only uses printed ballots, so the county auditor prints the completed ballot and stores it securely until the ballot can be processed and tabulated.
- If you choose to vote by fax, your county auditor will fax you a ballot.
- Mark your ballot and fax it back to your county auditor.
- North Dakota only uses printed ballots, so the county auditor prints the completed ballot and stores it securely until the ballot can be processed and tabulated.