As App State transitions to mobile AppCards, many parts of everyday life on campus have pivoted. Instead of using a physical ID, students only need to open their phone to access dining halls, retail, printers, University Recreation facilities, the library and dorms. However, the upcoming municipal elections on Nov. 5 raise a question about the new tech.
For years, AppCards have been a valid form of ID for voters to show at the ballot box. They gave students without a valid North Carolina driver’s license, passport or voter ID card the means to participate in elections. This service gives broader voting rights for students at App State who could otherwise have difficulty exercising their right to vote.
As of its rollout in fall 2025, mobile AppCards are not valid as a voter ID. The AppCard office issues AppCards to be used as voter ID, although they cannot be used around campus. The office makes exemptions for the mobile AppCard requirement upon request for students without a compatible device. Students can request an AppCard by emailing appcardoffice@appstate.edu.
State voter ID laws require physical documentation and are specific about what can and cannot be used. This change comes among other challenges to voting rights in North Carolina, including the 2024 North Carolina Supreme Court race that resulted in the Griffin List.
Although the AppCard office will not issue any more AppCards for use around campus, the existing physical AppCards can still be used for voter ID.
