170 Country’s Require Voter ID

But yeah, the Democrats communists of America keep saying it’s voter suppression. Ignorance shows now boundaries.

If you refuse Voter ID, you’re rigging elections.

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Voting is a cornerstone of democracy, and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process is a priority for nations around the world. One common measure to verify voter eligibility is the requirement to present identification at the polling station. According to a 2022 study known as the Comparative Voter ID Law (CVIL) index, which analyzed 246 electoral jurisdictions worldwide, approximately 70.7% require photo ID, 12.9% require non-photo ID, and 15.3% rely solely on basic personal details without any document. This means that over 83% of jurisdictions mandate some form of ID to vote, highlighting a global consensus on the importance of verification while balancing accessibility. The study underscores that voter ID policies vary by region, with Africa and Asia having the highest proportions of photo ID requirements, while Oceania leans toward simpler methods.

Cross-referencing this with electoral data from organizations like the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network and reports from Pew Research Center, the vast majority of countries require ID to prevent fraud and ensure only eligible citizens participate. Requirements can range from strict photo ID (e.g., passports or national ID cards) to non-photo documents (e.g., utility bills or bank statements). In some cases, ID is requested but not strictly enforced, allowing provisional voting. Notably, the United States does not have a national voter ID law; instead, it varies by state, with 36 states requiring or requesting ID 3 and 14 states plus D.C. not requiring any documentation at the polls.

Below is a comprehensive list of countries that require ID to vote in elections, drawn from aggregated data across sources including the CVIL index, ACE network, and international electoral reports. This list focuses on national-level requirements for in-person voting in general elections and excludes territories or sub-jurisdictions unless specified. Note that policies can change, and some countries may have exceptions for certain voters (e.g., elderly or disabled individuals). Countries not listed here typically do not have a strict ID requirement or rely on alternative verification methods like voter rolls and signatures. The exceptions include Australia and New Zealand, where voters provide their name and address to be marked off a list, and the United Kingdom, where photo ID was introduced nationally in 2023 for UK parliamentary elections but may vary for devolved elections 7 .

Africa

• Algeria

• Angola

• Benin

• Botswana

• Burkina Faso

• Burundi

• Cameroon

• Cape Verde

• Central African Republic

• Chad

• Comoros

• Congo

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Djibouti

• Egypt

• Equatorial Guinea

• Eswatini

• Gabon

• Gambia

• Ghana

• Guinea

• Guinea-Bissau

• Ivory Coast

• Kenya

• Lesotho

• Liberia

• Libya

• Madagascar

• Malawi

• Mali

• Mauritania

• Mauritius

• Morocco

• Mozambique

• Namibia

• Niger

• Nigeria

• Rwanda

• Sao Tome and Principe

• Senegal

• Seychelles

• Sierra Leone

• Somalia

• South Africa

• South Sudan

• Sudan

• Tanzania

• Togo

• Tunisia

• Uganda

• Zambia

• Zimbabwe

Americas

• Argentina

• Barbados

• Belize

• Bolivia

• Brazil

• Canada

• Chile

• Colombia

• Costa Rica

• Cuba

• Dominican Republic

• Ecuador

• El Salvador

• Guatemala

• Guyana

• Haiti

• Honduras

• Jamaica

• Mexico

• Nicaragua

• Panama

• Paraguay

• Peru

• Suriname

• Trinidad and Tobago

• Uruguay

• Venezuela

(Note: The United States is not listed as a single entry due to state-level variations, but 36 states require ID 3 .)

Asia

• Afghanistan

• Bahrain

• Bangladesh

• Bhutan

• Brunei

• Cambodia

• China

• India

• Indonesia

• Iran

• Iraq

• Israel

• Japan

• Jordan

• Kazakhstan

• Kuwait

• Kyrgyzstan

• Laos

• Lebanon

• Malaysia

• Maldives

• Mongolia

• Myanmar

• Nepal

• North Korea

• Oman

• Pakistan

• Philippines

• Qatar

• Russia (Asian part)

• Saudi Arabia

• Singapore

• South Korea

• Sri Lanka

• Syria

• Taiwan

• Tajikistan

• Thailand

• Timor-Leste

• Turkey

• Turkmenistan

• United Arab Emirates

• Uzbekistan

• Vietnam

• Yemen

Europe

• Albania

• Andorra

• Armenia

• Austria

• Azerbaijan

• Belarus

• Belgium

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Bulgaria

• Croatia

• Cyprus

• Czech Republic

• Denmark

• Estonia

• Finland

• France

• Georgia

• Germany

• Greece

• Hungary

• Iceland

• Ireland

• Italy

• Latvia

• Liechtenstein

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Malta

• Moldova

• Monaco

• Montenegro

• Netherlands

• North Macedonia

• Norway

• Poland

• Portugal

• Romania

• Russia (European part)

• San Marino

• Serbia

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• Spain

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Ukraine

• Vatican City

Oceania

• Fiji

• Kiribati

• Marshall Islands

• Micronesia

• Nauru

• Palau

• Papua New Guinea

• Samoa

• Solomon Islands

• Tonga

• Tuvalu

• Vanuatu

This list represents approximately 170 countries, aligning with the CVIL’s finding that the majority of global jurisdictions mandate ID. For countries with compulsory national ID systems (e.g., Brazil, India), photo ID is often the norm, enhancing security but potentially creating barriers if access to ID is limited. In contrast, places without ID requirements argue that robust voter registration systems and low fraud rates make ID unnecessary, promoting higher participation 5 .

Understanding these policies helps highlight the balance between election security and accessibility. While ID requirements can deter fraud, they must be implemented with free or low-cost options to avoid disenfranchising marginalized groups. As global democracies evolve, ongoing reforms—like the UK’s recent adoption of photo ID—reflect debates on how best to protect the vote without restricting it. For the latest on specific countries, consult official electoral bodies or resources like the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).