Voter ID law

A Voter ID law is a law that requires some form of identification in order to vote or receive a ballot for an election. In most jurisdictions, voters must present an ID, usually a photo ID.



Canada
In Canada the Commonwealth governments will send out to their residents, by mail, an Elections Canada registration confirmation card, which the voter takes to the polling station, in advance detailing the where and when that individual should vote. To vote, one must prove their identity and address. A voter has three options:


 * 1) Show one original piece of identification with photo, name and address like a passport, driver license or a health card. It must be issued by a government agency.
 * 2) Show two original pieces of authorized identification. Both pieces must have a name, one must also have an address, and one must also have a photo. Examples: student ID, birth certificate, public transportation card, utility bill, bank/credit card statement, etc.
 * 3) Take an oath and have an elector who knows the voter vouch for them (both of which will be required to make a sworn statement). This person must have authorized identification and their name must appear on the list of electors in the same polling division as the voter. This person can only vouch for one person and the person who is vouched for cannot vouch for another elector.

Confederate States
Because of laws against any form of poll tax in the Confederate States, voting rights must be extended freely and without monetary cost to every legally eligible voter. Most States have some form of voter ID requirement to vote.

In the Confederate States the State governments will send out to their residents, by mail, a state Department of State registration confirmation card, which the voter takes to the polling station, in advance detailing the where and when that individual should vote. To vote, one must prove their identity and address. A voter has three options:


 * 1) Show one original piece of identification with photo, name and address like a passport, driver license or a health card. It must be issued by a government agency.
 * 2) Show two original pieces of authorized identification. Both pieces must have a name, one must also have an address, and one must also have a photo. Examples: student ID, birth certificate, public transportation card, utility bill, bank/credit card statement, etc.
 * 3) Take an oath and have an elector who knows the voter vouch for them (both of which will be required to make a sworn statement). This person must have authorized identification and their name must appear on the list of electors in the same polling division as the voter. This person can only vouch for one person and the person who is vouched for cannot vouch for another elector.

Federated States
Because of laws against any form of poll tax in the Federated States, voting rights must be extended freely and without monetary cost to every legally eligible voter. Most States have some form of voter ID requirement to vote.

In the Federated States the State governments will send out to their residents, by mail, a state Department of State registration confirmation card, which the voter takes to the polling station, in advance detailing the where and when that individual should vote. To vote, one must prove their identity and address. A voter has three options:


 * 1) Show one original piece of identification with photo, name and address like a passport, driver license or a health card. It must be issued by a government agency.
 * 2) Show two original pieces of authorized identification. Both pieces must have a name, one must also have an address, and one must also have a photo. Examples: student ID, birth certificate, public transportation card, utility bill, bank/credit card statement, etc.
 * 3) Take an oath and have an elector who knows the voter vouch for them (both of which will be required to make a sworn statement). This person must have authorized identification and their name must appear on the list of electors in the same polling division as the voter. This person can only vouch for one person and the person who is vouched for cannot vouch for another elector.

Germany
Germany has a community-based resident registration system and everyone eligible to vote receives a personal polling notification some weeks before the election by mail, indicating the polling station of the voter's precinct. Voters have to present their polling notification or a piece of photo ID (identity card, passport, form of identification) when voting. The election officials may refrain from demanding identification when the voter is personally known to them, given his or her name is in the polling station's register of voters.

Netherlands
The registration office of each municipality in the Netherlands maintains a registration of all residents. Every eligible voter receives a personal polling notification by mail some weeks before the election, indicating the polling station of the voter's precinct. Voters have to present their polling notification and a piece of photo ID (passport, identity card, or drivers license) when voting. Such photo ID may be expired but not more than 5 years.

Indelible ink
An alternative to voter ID in many countries is the use of indelible ink, into which a finger is dipped, which makes it difficult to vote more than once.