New Jersey

New Jersey does not have a voter ID law.

Registered voters do not need to provide an ID when they vote in person, except for some first-time voters.

Check the federal ID requirements for first-time voters!

Any registered voter in New Jersey may apply for a vote-by-mail ballot.

A copy of your ID is not required to vote by mail, with the exception of some first-time voters.

Check the federal ID requirements for first-time voters!

You must file a formal request with your county’s circuit court to change your name in New Jersey. 

You will be required to publish notice in a newspaper for a specific period of time.

If the court approves your name change, you will receive a court order that can be used to update the name on your ID documents.

Submit a request to New Jersey’s Department of Health to update your birth certificate.

To apply for an updated New Jersey birth certificate, you will need to provide:

• letter requesting that your birth certificate be amended to reflect your name change
• copy of your original birth certificate
• certified copy of your name-change court order
• payment of applicable fee(s)

Note: You must update your birth certificate with the state where you were born.

You must update your name with the Social Security Administration before you can change your name on a New Jersey-issued ID.

You need to update your New Jersey driver’s license or state ID within two weeks of changing your legal name.

Visit your local MVC and provide acceptable documentation demonstrating your legal name change.

You can update your name and gender marker separately or at the same time.

New Jersey allows residents to mark female, male, or undesignated/non-binary on their birth certificate. Medical certification is not required.

Submit a request to New Jersey’s Department of Health to update your birth certificate.

To apply for an updated New Jersey birth certificate, you will need to provide:

• completed Request Form and Attestation (PDF)
• copy of your original birth certificate
• copy of government-issued ID
• payment of applicable fee(s)

Note: You must update your birth certificate with the state where you were born.

New Jersey allows residents to mark M, F, or X on their state-issued IDs. No medical certification or documentation is required.

Visit a MVC Licensing Center and provide a completed Declaration of Gender Change Form (PDF). You must surrender your current driver license or identification card and obtain a New Jersey license or state ID with your updated information.

You can update your name and gender marker separately or at the same time.