An exchange on ABC’s This Week turned into a fact-check about voter ID rules in Virginia after host Jonathan Karl pushed Sen. Mark Warner on whether the state requires photo identification to vote.
The on-air back-and-forth began when Karl asked whether Democrats should support national photo ID rules during a segment about the SAVE America Act. Warner said, “In Virginia, we have voter I.D. and photo I.D.” Karl replied, “That’s actually not the case,” noting that Virginia allows alternatives and an affidavit option for voters who lack certain documents.
What aired on ABC
Karl pressed Warner on whether state practice in Virginia matches the photo-ID standard proponents describe. Warner emphasized that Virginia voters are asked for identification and pointed to his experience as a voter. Karl countered that the state’s law does not limit acceptable proof to government-issued photo identification and that a voter without such ID can complete an affidavit to cast a regular ballot.
How Virginia law handles voter ID
Virginia election officials ask in-person voters for identification, but the state’s accepted verification list is broader than just photo IDs. Acceptable documents include nonphoto items such as utility bills, bank statements, government checks and paychecks, among others.
If a voter does not present an acceptable document, Virginia permits the voter to sign an identification confirmation statement — effectively an affidavit under penalty of law — and cast a regular ballot. Voters who provide neither an acceptable document nor the affidavit are required to cast a provisional ballot that is handled separately.
The state’s voter registration form also asks applicants to affirm U.S. citizenship and provide a Social Security number if available, but it does not require presentation of photo identification to register. In brief: Virginia asks for ID, but allows nonphoto documents and an affidavit option for in-person voting. The code’s section title is instructive: “Identification requirements and affidavit procedure” (Va. Code §24.2-643).
What the SAVE America Act would change
The SAVE America Act, as discussed during the interview, would impose federal requirements that shift current practices for federal elections. Reported provisions include requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections, requiring eligible photo identification before voting in federal contests, and steps intended to remove noncitizens from voter rolls.
Supporters say these measures would strengthen federal election integrity. Opponents argue the changes could create new obstacles for eligible voters who lack ready access to government-issued photo IDs, potentially affecting turnout among certain groups.
The House previously approved the bill on a 218-213 vote, with a small number of Democrats joining Republicans in favor.
Public opinion and quick numbers
Surveys show broad public support for government-issued photo ID requirements even as state practices vary. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found strong majorities in favor of photo-ID requirements.
- 83% overall — favor requiring government-issued photo ID to vote (Pew Research Center, 2025)
- 71% — Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (Pew Research Center, 2025)
- 95% — Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (Pew Research Center, 2025)
- 218-213 — House vote on the SAVE America Act (earlier consideration)
Bottom line
Both Karl and Warner touched on accurate parts of the picture. Warner was correct that Virginia election officials ask for voter identification; Karl was correct that the state does not restrict accepted documents to government-issued photo IDs and that voters without those documents can sign an affidavit and cast a regular ballot. The law allows nonphoto documents and an affidavit option for in-person voting, while federal proposals like the SAVE America Act would move toward requiring documentary proof of citizenship and eligible photo ID for federal voting.
Source attribution
- Fox News: Sen. Mark Warner called out in ABC interview for inaccurate voter ID claims
- Virginia Code §24.2-643 — Identification requirements and affidavit procedure
This article summarizes the ABC interview, relevant Virginia statutory language and contemporary reporting on the SAVE America Act to clarify what state rules currently allow and what federal changes would do.
