Sen. Mark Warner misstated Virginia’s voter identification rules during a recent appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” prompting host Jonathan Karl to correct him on air about whether the state requires a photo ID to vote.
Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, was corrected on-air during an interview on ABC’s “This Week” after he inaccurately suggested that Virginia requires photo identification to vote.
During the exchange, host Jonathan Karl pressed Warner on voter ID requirements and cited public polling showing broad support for requiring identification at the polls. Warner responded by saying, “In Virginia, we have voter ID and photo ID …,” before Karl—who said he is a Virginia voter—interjected to clarify that Virginia does not require a photo ID.
Under Virginia’s rules, voters can cast a regular ballot by presenting one of several acceptable forms of identification or by signing an ID Confirmation Statement affirming their identity if they do not have an acceptable ID with them. Voters who neither present acceptable ID nor sign the confirmation statement must vote a provisional ballot.
The discussion came amid debate over the federal SAVE Act (H.R. 22), which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
Warner argued that proof-of-citizenship requirements could create hurdles for eligible voters, including some who have changed their names after marriage. Supporters of the SAVE Act say the proposal includes options for applicants with name changes, and the bill text describes an “alternative process” states could use for applicants who cannot provide standard citizenship documents.
Warner also said that some Republican-led states accept gun licenses as voter identification while rejecting student IDs. Policies on which IDs are accepted vary widely by state, and national legislative tracking groups have noted that student IDs are a recurring point of dispute in state voter ID laws, with some states expanding their use and others restricting them.
