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I believe that Voter I.D laws are in a pretty good place as they exist currently.

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Guidelines on how the laws work and where they exists

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In recent years, a growing number of states have elected to pass what have become generally referred to as voter identification laws. These laws require voters to show some sort of personal identification at the polls in order to cast their vote in state, local, and national elections.

As of 2016, a voter ID law is in effect in 35 states; how strict these laws are depends entirely upon each state.

All first-time voters who registered by mail and did not provide proof of identity by Election Day must show ID at their polling place, regardless of their state's voter ID law, or lack thereof.

Why Have ID Laws Been Passed?

Voter ID laws have become controversial in recent history. For those states where voter identification laws have been passed, their legislatures claim that it is an effort to curb voter fraud. With an ID requirement, the state can assure that a single vote is being cast for a single voter, as well as ensure that the person casting their vote is who they say they are. This, according to those states, prevents voter impersonation.

Opponents of these laws point out that very little of this type of fraud occurs, and that these laws potentially target specific ethnicities, socio-economic groups, and citizens who may be homeless and without the means to an ID-causing people to be barred from exercising their constitutional right to vote. For some in rural areas, the burden of accessing an ID office is a further barrier to voting.

In some states, voter ID laws have been partially or completely turned over by the state's judiciary branch; therefore, it is important to note that this topic is a fluid one in today's political climate.

Requirements Categories of Voter ID Laws

Photo ID vs. Non-Photo ID Laws

As mentioned above, currently there are 35 states with voter ID laws in effect, though additional states have passed laws that have been subsequently struck down.

These states are separated into two categories: " Photo ID" vs. " Non-Photo ID".

If your state is a "Photo ID" state, you MUST provide identification that includes your photo. Examples of acceptable photo ID documents include:

Driver's license.

U.S. passport.

State ID card.

Military identification card.

Tribal ID card.

For "Non-Photo ID" states, a form of identification is required, but does not need your photo on it. Non-photo ID documents should include your name and address; examples are:

Bank statement.

Rent or mortgage agreement.

Utility bill.

Strict vs. Non-Strict Laws

These states' laws are further broken down into " Strict" and " Non-Strict" categories, based on what voters are required/allowed to do if they do NOT meet the ID requirements above:

"Strict" voter ID laws: You will be required to vote on a provisional ballot that will be contingent upon you taking additional steps after voting to prove your identity (i.e. coming back with an ID card).
If your identity cannot be verified, your provisional ballot will not count.

"Non-Strict voter ID laws: You may have an option that allows you to vote-and have your vote counted-without the required ID.
OPTION EXAMPLES: Signing an identity affidavit; having election officials vouch for your identity, voting on a provisional ballot, etc.

Details for each state's requirements and allowances can be found on the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) Voter ID Laws page.

U.S. States with Voter ID Laws

Voters are required to show some type of identification at the polls in 35 states. As of 2016, part of Texas' voter ID law has also been struck down; however, it remains unclear whether or not the state continues to enact the entire law as passed.

The following states have passed and enacted voter identification laws; they are separated into their respective " Strict" vs. " Non-Strict" categories. For details on the state-specific nuances to each law, visit the NCSL's Voter ID Laws page.

Strict ID Laws

Photo ID Required

Non-Photo ID Accepted

Non-Strict ID Laws

Photo ID Required

Non-Photo ID Accepted

Voter ID Law Exceptions

There are some exceptions to the stringent requirements that these voter identification laws put forth. Exceptions are state-specific-please visit the NCSL's Voter ID Laws page to see which states honor the below exceptions.

Exceptions include:

Voting absentee or using a mail-in ballot.

Having any of the following:

Religious objections to photography.

Monetary difficulties/poverty.

Reasonable impediments to applying for an ID card.

Been a victim of:

Natural disaster.

Domestic abuse, stalking, or sexual assault.

What If I Don't Have an ID?

If you do not have your state's required form of identification, and you do not meet any of the exceptions listed above, the procedure for voting will be based on whether your state is considered Strict or Non-Strict (see above for procedures). Often, this includes filling out a provisional ballot and returning with proof of ID within a specified time frame.

While many states offer a free ID card to its residents with financial hardship, copies of the identification documents required to obtain that free ID can be prohibitively costly to people in such situations. If this is the case for you, contact your local DMV to find out what your options may be.

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In recent years, a growing number of states have elected to pass what have become generally referred to as voter identification laws. These laws require voters to show some sort of personal identification at the polls in order to cast their vote in state, local, and national elections.

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The authors note that the existing research tends to point to three things: that strict voter ID laws requiring identification to cast a ballot do in fact reduce turnout by some amount, that turnout reduction tends to work in Republicans' favor, and that differential effects have been observed along class and education lines, but not race. But the UCSD researchers call those conclusions into question, noting that analyses based on elections data before 2014 could not have collected comprehensive enough data to rule out racial suppression, and that analyses that sidestep that limitation by relying on survey data tend to fall victim to people of color over-reporting if they voted in prior elections.

According to the new study, the new approach addresses these problems by assessing nationwide votes in the 2008 and 2012 primary and general elections using responses from the Cooperative Congressional Election Studies, a large national survey that validates self-attestation of voting status with voting records. The researchers used this dataset to compare turnout in elections where strict voter ID had been implemented versus those where it hadn't, and measured the gap in turnout between races.

Using this refined methodology, researchers found that strict ID laws doubled the turnout gap between whites and Latinos in the general elections, and almost doubled the white-black turnout gap in primary elections. And given that their turnout models incorporate the known surge of turnout among minorities spurred by Barack Obama's candidacy, they might actually be underestimating the overall suppression effects of voter ID law. "I couldn't find a compelling way to control for the potential Obama effect and I do think his presence might have reduced the effect of voter ID laws in 2008 and 2012," Hajnal said in an email. "Although in order for that to happen, Obama's effects on minority turnout would have to be especially pronounced in strict ID law states."

In an article in the Washington Post summarizing their research, the authors expound on the political conclusions of their work:

By instituting strict voter ID laws, states can alter the electorate and shift outcomes toward those on the right. Where these laws are enacted, the influence of Democrats and liberals wanes and the power of Republicans grows. Unsurprisingly, these strict ID laws are passed almost exclusively by Republican legislatures.

Alone, those political effects might not matter. Existing legal precedent has allowed voting laws that have limited naked partisan advantage so long as they do not violate anti-discrimination law as outlined in the Voting Rights Act. So far, intent and proven racial disparities in access to ID have been the strongest arguments against implementing strict ID laws, and have worked in court in some limited-and egregious -cases.

But the UCSD study provides some of the first comprehensive evidence of the racially disparate impact of voter ID laws on voting outcomes, and adds to the growing body of data that voter suppression is the end-result of several Republican-led voting initiatives and contributes to their national partisan advantage. Again, the catch-22 is that if data does continue to accumulate to this effect, the discrimination will have already taken place.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.

Vann R. Newkirk II is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he covers politics and policy.

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How Voter ID Laws Discriminate Against Racial Minorities

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The authors note that the existing research tends to point to three things: that strict voter ID laws requiring identification to cast a ballot do in fact reduce turnout by some amount, that turnout reduction tends to work in Republicans' favor, and that differential effects have been observed along class and education lines, but not race.

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Voter ID laws change frequently. Find out what ID you need to show when you vote.

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Vote a provisional ballot or vote a regular ballot if s/he is identified by two election officials as an eligible voter on the poll list, and both election workers sign a sworn affidavit so stating.

If voting a provisional ballot, the voter has until 5 p.m. on the Friday after the election to bring the required ID

An election official may waive the identification requirement if the election official knows the identity of the voter. A voter who cannot exhibit a required form of identification shall be allowed to vote a questioned ballot.

Valid Arizona driver's license.

Valid Arizona non-driver identification.

Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification.

Valid U.S. federal, state or local government issued identification.

Utility bill dated within 90 days of the election.

Bank or credit union statement dated within 90 days of the election.

Valid Arizona vehicle registration.

Indian census card.

Property tax statement.

Vehicle insurance card.

Recorder's certificate.

An elector who does not provide the required identification shall receive a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are counted only if the elector provides identification to the county recorder by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day after a general election that includes an election for federal office, or by 5 p.m. on the third business day after any other election.

A voter shall verify registration by presenting a document or identification card that:

Documents and identification cards that comply with the requirements include without limitation:

A document or identification card may be presented in a digital format on an electronic device if it complies with other requirements and has been approved or issues by the U.S., the state of Arkansas or an accredited post-secondary educational institution.

Colorado

§1-1-104(19.5) and 1-7-110
NOTE: Since the passage of HB 1303 in 2013, most CO voters now vote by mail. However, at least one location is open on Election Day for in-person voting, and the ID requirement spelled out here applies to those voters.

Colorado driver's license.

Colorado Dept. of Revenue ID card.

U.S. passport.

Employee ID card with photo issued by the -U.S. government, Colorado state government, or political subdivision of Colorado.

Pilot's license.

U.S. military ID with photo.

Copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector.

Medicare or Medicaid card.

Certified copy of birth certificate.

Certified documentation of naturalization.

An eligible elector who is unable to produce identification may cast a provisional ballot.

The designated election official shall attempt to verify that an elector who cast a provisional ballot is eligible to vote. The designated election official or designee shall complete the preliminary verification of the elector's eligibility to vote before the ballot is counted. (§1-8.5-105)

Social Security card.

Any other preprinted form of identification which shows the elector's name and either the elector's address, signature or photograph.

Elector shall, on a form prescribed by the secretary of the state, write the elector's residential address and date of birth, print the elector's name and sign a statement under penalty of false statement that the elector is the elector whose name appears on the official checklist.

Photo ID.

Utility bill.

Paycheck.

Any government document with voter's name and address.

In the event the voter does not have proof of identity with them, he or she shall sign an affidavit of affirmation that he or she is the person listed on the election district record.

One of the following current and valid picture identifications:

Florida driver's license.

Florida ID card issued by the Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

U.S. passport.

Debit or credit card.

Military identification.

Student identification.

Retirement center identification.

Neighborhood association ID.

Public assistance identification.

Veteran health identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

A license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm.

Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the federal government, the state, a county, or a municipality.

If the picture identification does not contain the signature of the elector, an additional identification that provides the elector's signature shall be required.

A voter without one of the acceptable forms of photo identification can vote on a provisional ballot. He or she will have up to three days after the election to present appropriate photo identification at the county registrar's office in order for the provisional ballot to be counted.

Acceptable types of ID are not specified by law. Hawaii's office of elections provides this information: "Forms of acceptable identification include a valid photo ID (Drivers License, State ID, etc), a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other government issued document that shows your name and address."

If the voter has no identification, the voter will be asked to recite his/her date of birth and residence address to corroborate the information provided in the poll book.

A voter may complete an affidavit in lieu of the personal identification. The affidavit shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and shall require the voter to provide the voter's name and address. The voter shall sign the affidavit. Any person who knowingly provides false, erroneous or inaccurate information on such affidavit shall be guilty of a felony.

Voters who are unable or decline to produce proof of identification may vote a provisional ballot. The ballot is counted only if (1) the voter returns to the election board by noon on the Monday after the election and: (A) produces proof of identification; or (B) executes an affidavit stating that the voter cannot obtain proof of identification, because the voter: (i) is indigent; or (ii) has a religious objection to being photographed; and (2) the voter has not been challenged or required to vote a provisional ballot for any other reason.

Note: The Secretary of State's Office is required to provide a voter identification card to all active registered voters who do not have one of the five forms of identification at the time of passage of the bill (HB 516 in 2017). Going forward, county auditors will be required to issue voter identification cards to newly registered voters who do not possess a valid form of ID, as prescribed by the Secretary of State's Office.

In 2018, voters will be asked for ID and anyone who does not have necessary ID will be asked to sign an oath verifying their identity, and will be allowed to cast a regular ballot.

In 2019, voters without the necessary ID will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up until the time of the county canvass of votes (Monday after election day).

A person who is registered to vote but is unable to present a form of identification listed may present any of the following:

a. A current voter identification card that contains the voter identification number if the voter identification card is signed before the voter presents the card to the election official.

b. Other forms of identification sufficient to establish identity and residence dates, or describe terms of residency current to, within forty-five days prior to presentation:

(a) Residential lease.

(b) Property tax statement.

(c) Utility bill.

(d) Bank statement.

(e) Paycheck.

(f) Government check.

(g) Other government document.

A person who is registered to vote but is unable to present a form of identification listed above, may establish identity and residency in the precinct by written oath of a person who is also registered to vote in the precinct. The attesting registered voter's oath shall attest to the stated identity of the person wishing to vote and that the person is a current resident of the precinct. The oath must be signed by the attesting registered voter in the presence of the appropriate precinct election official. A registered voter who has signed two oaths on election day attesting to a person's identity and residency as provided in this subsection is prohibited from signing any further oaths as provided in this subsection on that day.

If a voter cannot meet any of the above options, the voter may cast a provisional ballot.

The following forms of identification are valid if they contain the name and photograph of the voter and have not expired. Expired documents are valid if the bearer is aged 65 or older.

A voter who is unable or refuses to provide current and valid identification may vote a provisional ballot.

To have his or her ballot counted, the voter must provide a valid form of identification to the county election officer in person or provide a copy by mail or electronic means before the meeting of the county board of canvassers.

Driver's license.

Social Security card.

When the officers of an election disagree as to the qualifications of a voter or if his right to vote is disputed by a challenger, the voter shall sign a written oath as to his qualifications before he is permitted to vote.

Louisiana driver's license.

Louisiana special ID card.

Military ID with photo.

Other generally recognized picture identification.

If the applicant does not have identification, s/he shall sign an affidavit to that effect before the commissioners, and the applicant shall provide further identification by presenting his current registration certificate, giving his date of birth or providing other information stated in the precinct register that is requested by the commissioners. However, an applicant that is allowed to vote without the picture identification required by this Paragraph is subject to challenge as provided in R.S. 18:565.

Michigan driver's license.

Michigan personal identification card.

A voter who does not possess either of the above may show any of the following, as long as they are current:

An individual who does not possess, or did not bring to the polls, photo ID, may sign an affidavit and vote a regular ballot.

Driver's license.

Photo ID card issued by a branch, department, or entity of the State of Mississippi.

United States passport.

Government employee ID card.

Firearms license.

Student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college or community/junior college.

United States military ID.

Tribal photo ID.

Any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government or any state government.

Mississippi Voter Identification Card.

An individual without ID can cast an affidavit ballot which will be counted if the individual returns to the appropriate circuit clerk within five days after the election and shows government-issued photo ID.

Voters with a religious objection to being photographed may vote an affidavit ballot, which will be counted if the voter returns to the appropriate circuit clerk within five days after the election and executes an affidavit that the religious exemption applies.

Nonexpired Missouri driver's license.

Nonexpired or nonexpiring Missouri nondriver's license.

A nonexpired United States passport.

Another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri which is either not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election.

*If the driver or non-driver license has expired after the most recent general election, it is an acceptable form of voter ID.

If ID is not presented, the voter votes on a provisional ballot and must return that day before 7 p.m. to show ID. A provisional ballot is also counted if the signature on a voter's provisional ballot envelope is determined by a local election authority to match the signature on the voter's registration record.

Driver's license from New Hampshire or any other state, regardless of expiration date.

Photo ID card issued by the NH director of motor vehicles.

Voter ID card issued under R.S. 260:21.

U.S. armed services photo ID card.

U.S. passport, regardless of expiration date.

Valid student ID card.

Any other valid photo ID issued by federal, state, county or municipal government.

Any other photo ID that is determined to be legitimate by the supervisors of the checklist, the moderator, or the town or city clerk, provided that if any person authorized to challenge a voter under RSA 659:27 objects to the use of such photo identification, the voter shall be required to execute a qualified voter affidavit as if no identification was presented.

Verification of the voter's identity by a moderator or supervisor of the checklist or clerk of a town, ward or city (not a ballot clerk). If any person authorized to challenge a voter does so under this provision, the voter shall be required to fill out a challenged voter affidavit before obtaining a ballot.

Identification must provide:

Legal name.

Current residential street address in North Dakota.

Date of birth.

A valid form of identification is:

Driver's license.

ID card issues by the North Dakota department of transportation.

ID issued by tribal government to a tribal member residing in the state.

If an individual's valid form of ID does not include the required information or the information is not current, the identification must be supplemented by one of the following that provides the missing or outdated information:

If an individual is not able to show a valid form of identification but asserts qualifications as an elector in the precinct in which the individual desires to vote, the individual may mark a ballot that must be securely set aside in a sealed envelope designed by the secretary of state. After the ballot is set aside, the individual may show a valid form of identification to either a polling place election board member if the individual returns to the polling place before the polls close, or to an employee of the office of the election official responsible for the administration of the election before the meeting of the canvassing board occurring on the sixth day after the election. Each ballot set aside under this subsection must be presented to the members of the canvassing board for proper inclusion or exclusion from the tally.

The following forms of identification are valid for individuals living under special circumstances who do not possess a valid form of identification:

For an individual living in a long-term care facility, a long-term care certificate prescribed by the secretary of state and issued by a long-term care facility in this state.

For a uniformed service member or immediate family member temporarily stationed away from the individual's residence in this state, or a resident of the state temporarily living outside the country, a current military identification card or passport.

For an individual living with a disability that prevents the individual from traveling away from the individual's home, the signature on an absentee or mail ballot application from another qualified elector who, by signing, certifies the applicant is a qualified elector.

Current and valid photo identification, defined as a document that shows the individual's name and current address, includes a photograph, includes an expiration date that has not passed, and was issued by the U.S. government or the state of Ohio.

United States passport or passport card.

A United States military identification card, Ohio national guard identification card, or United States department of veterans affairs identification card.

A front and back copy of an individual's photo identification-for a United States passport, an image of the passport's identification page that includes the individual's name, photograph, and other identifying information and the passport's expiration date.

For a provisional ballot to be eligible to be counted when cast by an individual who does not have photo identification because the individual has a religious objection to being photographed, the individual must complete an affidavit of religious objection. If the individual does not complete the affidavit at the time of casting the provisional ballot, the individual must appear at the office of the board of elections within four days after the day of the election and complete the affidavit.

For a provisional ballot to be eligible to be counted when cast by any other individual who does not have or is unable to provide photo identification to the election officials, the individual who cast that ballot, within four days after the day of the election, must appear at the office of the board of elections and provide photo identification.

"Proof of identity" shall mean a document that satisfies the following:

Shows a name that substantially conforms to the name in the precinct registry.

Shows a photograph.

Includes an expiration date that is after the date of the election.

Was issued by the United States, state of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized Indian tribe or nation.

A voter registration card issued by the appropriate county elections board may serve as proof of identity without meeting all of the above requirements.

A provisional ballot cast by a voter who declines or is unable to produce proof of identity shall only be considered verified and approved for counting if the voter's name, residence address, date of birth, and driver's license number or last four digits of Social Security number as provided on the affidavit match what is in the registration database.

A valid (unexpired or expired within the last 6 months) document showing a photo of the person to whom it was issued, including:

If the person claiming to be a registered and eligible voter is unable to provide proof of identity as required, the person shall be allowed to vote a provisional ballot pursuant to section 17-19-24.2. The local board shall determine the validity of the provisional ballot pursuant to section 17-19-24.3.

Summary of section 17-19-24.3: The local board shall examine each provisional ballot application to determine if the signature matches the signature on the voter's registration. If the signatures match, the provisional ballot shall count. If the signatures do not match, the ballot shall not count and shall be rejected as illegal.

Voters who have a reasonable impediment to obtaining photo ID may show a non-photo voter registration card in lieu of photo ID, sign an affidavit attesting to the impediment, and cast a provisional ballot.

From the State Election Commission's web site:

If you have a reasonable impediment to obtaining photo ID, you may vote a provisional ballot after showing your nonphoto voter registration card. A reasonable impediment is any valid reason, beyond your control, which created an obstacle to obtaining photo ID. Some examples include:

To vote under the reasonable impediment exception:

1. Present your current, nonphoto registration card at the polling place.

2. Sign an affidavit stating why you could not obtain a photo ID.

3. Cast a provisional ballot that will be counted unless the county election commission has reason to believe your affidavit is false.

If you do NOT have photo ID and do NOT have a reasonable impediment to obtaining one, or you simply forgot to bring it with you to the polls, you may still vote a provisional ballot. However, for your vote to be counted, you must provide one of the photo IDs to the county election commission prior to certification of the election (usually Thursday or Friday after the election).

If a voter is not able to present a form of personal identification as required, the voter may complete an affidavit in lieu of the personal identification. The affidavit shall require the voter to provide his or her name and address. The voter shall sign the affidavit under penalty of perjury.

If a voter is unable to present the proper evidence of identification, then the voter will be entitled to vote by provisional ballot in the manner detailed in the bill. The provisional ballot will only be counted if the voter provides the proper evidence of identification to the administrator of elections or the administrator's designee by the close of business on the second business day after the election.

However, "A voter who is indigent and unable to obtain proof of identification without payment of a fee or who has a religious objection to being photographed shall be required to execute an affidavit of identity on a form provided by the county election commission and then shall be allowed to vote." §2-7-112(f)

With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or have expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place.

Voters who do not possess an acceptable form of photo ID and cannot obtain one of the forms of acceptable photo ID listed due to a reasonable impediment, may present a supporting form of ID and execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, noting the voter's reasonable impediment to obtaining an acceptable form of ID.

Supporting forms of ID that can be presented if the voter does not possess one of the forms of acceptable photo ID and cannot obtain one due to a reasonable impediment:

After presenting a supporting form of ID, the voter must execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.

If a voter possesses an acceptable form of photo ID but does not have it at the polling place, the voter will still be permitted to vote provisionally. The voter will have six (6) days to present an acceptable form of photo identification to the county voter registrar or the voter's ballot will be rejected.

Voters with a disability who do not have an acceptable form of photo ID may also apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption.

Voters who have a consistent religious objection to being photographed and voters who do not present any form of acceptable photo identification as a result of certain natural disasters as declared by the President of the United States or the Texas Governor, may vote a provisional ballot, appear at the voter registrar's office within six (6) calendar days after election day, and sign an affidavit swearing to the religious objection or natural disaster, in order for your ballot to be counted.

OR

Two forms of ID that bear the name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the precinct.

Except for first time voters covered by HAVA, any voter who does not show one of the forms of ID specified shall be allowed to vote a regular ballot after signing a statement under penalty of perjury verifying their identity. A voter who does not show ID or sign a statement shall be offered a provisional ballot.

Washington

§29A.40.160(7)

NOTE: Most Washington voters now vote by mail. However, county auditors are required to open at least one vote center where voters can cast a ballot in person, and the ID requirement spelled out here applies to those voters.

The county auditor shall require any person desiring to vote at a voting center to either sign a ballot declaration (generally in locations where ballots are scanned) or provide identification (generally in counties where voting is done electronically, although even in these counties the auditor can verify a voter's signature to a signature on record).

If identification is used it must be valid photo identification, such as:

West Virginia driver's license or ID car.

Valid driver's license issued by another state.

U.S. passport.

Valid employee identification card with photo issued by the U.S. government or state of West Virginia.

Valid student identification card issued by an institution of higher education in West Virginia or high school in West Virginia.

Valid military identification card with photo issued by the United States.

Valid concealed carry permit with a photograph.

Valid Medicare or Social Security card.

Valid birth certificate.

Valid voter registration card issued by a county clerk in the State of West Virginia.

Valid hunting or fishing license issued by the State of West Virginia.

Valid identification card issued by the West Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP).

Valid identification card issued by the West Virginia Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF).

Valid West Virginia Medicaid card.

Valid bank or debit card.

Valid utility bill issued within six months of the date of the election.

Valid bank statement issued within six months of the date of the election.

Valid health insurance card.

OR

In lieu of providing a valid identifying document, a registered voter may be accompanied at the polling place by an adult known to the registered voter for at least six months. That adult may sign an affidavit on a form provided to clerks and poll workers by the Secretary of State, which states under oath or affirmation that the adult has known the registered voter for at least six months, and that in fact the registered voter is the same person who is present for the purpose of voting. For the affidavit to be considered valid, the adult shall present a valid identifying document with his or her name, address, and photograph.

A poll worker may allow a voter, whom the poll worker has known for at least six months, to vote without presenting a valid identifying document.

If the person desiring to vote is unable to furnish a valid identifying document, or if the poll clerk determines that the proof of identification presented by the voter does not qualify as a valid identifying document, the person desiring to vote shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot after executing an affidavit affirming his or her identity.

The provisional ballot is entitled to be counted once the election authority verifies the identity of the individual by comparing that individual's signature to the current signature on file with the election authority and determines that the individual was otherwise eligible to cast a ballot at the polling place where the ballot was cast.

All of the above must include a photo and a name that conforms to the poll list.

If the ID presented is not proof of residence, the elector shall also present proof of residence.

An elector who appears to vote at a polling place and does not have statutory ID shall be offered the opportunity to vote a provisional ballot.

An elector who votes a provisional ballot may furnish statutory ID to the election inspectors before the polls close or to the municipal clerk no later than 4 p.m. on the Friday following Election Day.

Wyoming driver's license.

Tribal identification card issued by the governing body of the Eastern Shoshone tribe of Wyoming, the Northern Arapaho tribe of Wyoming or other federally recognized Indian tribe.

A Wyoming identification card.

A valid United States passport.

A United States military card.

A driver's license or identification card issued by another state or US territory.

Student ID card with a photograph issued by the University of Wyoming, a Wyoming community college or a Wyoming public school .

A valid Medicare insurance card (until Dec. 31, 2029).

A valid Medicaid insurance card (until Dec. 31, 2029)

An elector who appears to vote at a polling place and does not have statutory ID shall be offered the opportunity to vote a provisional ballot.

An elector who votes a provisional ballot must furnish statutory ID to the county clerk by the close of business on the day following the election.

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Read the latest updates on voter ID legislative action in the states and find out more about the two ways voter ID laws can be categorized. "

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Guest commentary curated by Forbes Opinion. Avik Roy, Opinion Editor. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Guest post written by

Matthew Rousu

Mr. Rousu is professor of economics at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.

Many states are passing laws requiring voters to prove their identity by showing a photo ID when voting. This simple measure is to ensure that people aren't misrepresenting themselves when voting. But voter ID laws are contentious and in some places, including Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, have been struck down by judges.

There are two key arguments against the voter ID requirement. The first is that voter fraud doesn't exist, which would mean the law has no benefits. This argument is laughable. Just ask Melowese Richardson, who was sentenced to five-years in prison for voting for Obama multiple times in Ohio. That state has been the focus of several reports of non-citizens and the deceased casting votes. In Texas, officials have pursued 66 people on charges of voter fraud since 2004. We don't even need to discuss John F. Kennedy and Chicago.

Opponents of voter ID laws to prevent fraud would quickly note that less than six-dozen cases in a state as big as Texas is almost nothing. But how often could we reasonably expect somebody who votes illegally to get caught when no identification is required? Shoplifters only get caught about one in fifty times and that's with firms who have a huge incentive to catch them. Without voter ID, does anybody really think that illegal voters would be caught more than one in a hundred times? I don't. With 66 cases exposed, this means a conservative estimate indicates that there have been at least 6,600 cases of voter fraud in the past decade in Texas alone. That doesn't sound so trivial anymore, does it?

The second argument is that voter ID laws inhibit the right to vote. This is also incorrect. A voter ID requirement strengthens voters' rights by protecting the votes of all who vote legally. When voter fraud occurs, it dilutes and weakens the votes of all law-biding voters. One could make a reasonable argument that by not forcing identification and encouraging fraud, you're violating the promise of one person, one vote. Law-abiding voters are having their votes diluted by fraudulent votes.

Showing ID when voting should be required, but that doesn't mean proponents shouldn't be more sympathetic to the argument that some people may not have a valid identification. The government should offer free photo identification cards to anybody who needs one. To estimate the costs, let's look at the state of Pennsylvania. A rough (but high) estimate might indicate this will cost $4 million initially with $200,000 each subsequent year. As a fiscal conservative, I loathe the idea wasteful government spending government. But this is a smart investment. In Pennsylvania, over 5.5 million voters cast ballots on Election Day 2012. If we assume each vote cast took about 15 minutes and that each voter's time is worth $16/hour, then the opportunity cost for this single election alone was over $22 million just for the voters. That doesn't count the paid and volunteer time for those running election precincts, all of which are staffed by either paid or unpaid workers. It's reasonable to estimate the cost to Pennsylvanians for elections exceeds $50 million annually. Spending $200,000 annually to ensure legitimate elections and protect law-biding votes is a bargain.

Opponents of voter ID claim that the law restricts voter rights and is too expensive. They're wrong on both counts. Given the benefits of a voter ID law and the low cost of implementation, there are two reasonable explanations for people to oppose voter ID laws. One is ignorance. The other is the understanding that there is widespread fraud, they're benefiting from it, and they want to keep this illegal advantage.

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Voter ID Would Protect Voter's Rights, Not Inhibit Them

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By MATTHEW ROUSU: Opponents of voter ID claim that the law restricts voter rights and is too expensive. They're wrong on both counts. Given the benefits of a voter ID law and the low cost of implementation, there are two reasonable explanations for people to oppose voter ID laws.