What countries have voter identification requirements?
I saw posts online saying that voter ID requirements (demonstrating citizenship) in the US would disenfranchise college students and people who have changed their name, such (with bias in the posts) women who got married.
Those assertions, however, are not true.
- 89% of those age 18 and up have proof of citizenship documents.
- 9% have them but they are not readily available, such as college students who left them at their parent’s home.
- Just 2% lack any documentation.
- Of those who lack documentation, they are primarily age 18-24 – mostly in rural areas – and the very elderly.
Second, moving to college does not invalidate your identification. In fact, passports, Social Security cards and birth certificates do not have any address on them!
Third, changing your name does not invalidate past documents. All past ID documents remain valid. You might be required to provide a “linking document” that links your past name to your current name – this can be a marriage certificate or Court order regarding a name change.
The above social media argument is based on the “false premise’ form of argument or “false assertion” by asserting that college students and those who change their name would not be able to vote. This is completely false.
Nearly All Countries and Half of US States Have Voter ID Requirements
Globally, nearly all countries require some form of voter ID, most requiring either government issued photo ID or a voter ID card (which typically includes a photo).
46 of 47 countries in the European region have photo ID requirements in order to vote. The UK is the exception but is in process of mandatory ID being required. Sweden permits alternative IDs if a photo ID is unavailable. India and Mexico require identification.
Canada uses “voter information cards” and allows some “alternative” proof of identity documents; photo ID is not mandated.
36 US states require some form of voter ID – depending on state this can be either photo ID or non-photo ID.
States Not Requiring Photo ID may accept the following:
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government document with name/address
- Voter registration card
- Social Security card
- Birth certificate
Global List of Countries by Voter ID Requirement
“Requires voter ID” means the country requires any form of identification (photo or non‑photo) at the polling place.
- “Does not require voter ID” means the country allows voting without presenting ID, relying instead on signature matching, voter cards, attestations, or other verification.
- Some countries have mixed systems (e.g., ID required only in certain elections or regions).
- Europe is the clearest region: 46 of 47 European countries require photo ID.
Countries That Require Voter Identification
Africa (All countries require voter ID unless noted otherwise)
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo (Republic of)
Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Côte d’Ivoire
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea‑Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
(Africa overwhelmingly requires voter ID; no credible sources identify any African country without ID requirements.)
Europe (46 of 47 require photo ID)
Require voter ID:
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark (ID required on request)
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
Historically did NOT require ID:
- United Kingdom (now transitioning to mandatory ID)
North America
Require voter ID:
Barbados
Belize
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico (strict national voter ID card)
Nicaragua
Panama
Trinidad and Tobago
United States (varies by state; many require ID)
Do NOT require voter ID:
- Canada (allows multiple non‑ID alternatives such as attestation)
South America
Require voter ID:
Argentina (compulsory voting; national ID required)
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
No evidence of non‑ID countries in South America.
Asia
Require voter ID:
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Georgia
India (EPIC voter ID system)
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
North Korea
Oman
Pakistan
Philippines
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor‑Leste
Turkey
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Oceania
Require voter ID:
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Vanuatu
Do NOT require voter ID:
- Australia (signature check; ID not required in federal elections)
- New Zealand (no ID required; relies on voter roll + mailed card)
🧭 Summary Table
| Region | Countries Requiring Voter ID | Countries Not Requiring Voter ID |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | All | None |
| Europe | 46 of 47 | Historically UK only (now requiring) |
| North America | Most | Canada |
| South America | All | None |
| Asia | Nearly all | None identified |
| Oceania | Most | Australia, New Zealand |
The global norm is voter ID.
- Europe is nearly universal in requiring photo ID.
- Canada, Australia, New Zealand are the most notable democracies without mandatory voter ID.
- The U.S. is mixed, with many states requiring ID and others not.
- ID requirements dominate worldwide.