Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) inaccurately described Virginia's voter identification law during an interview on ABC's 'This Week' on July 19, 2026. Warner criticized President Donald Trump's election security agenda and defended Democratic opposition to the SAVE America Act, which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
When asked by host Jonathan Karl whether Democrats should support photo voter identification requirements, Warner stated, 'In Virginia, we have voter ID and photo ID.' Karl corrected him, explaining that Virginia does not require a photo ID and allows voters to present various forms of identification or sign an affidavit if they do not have one. Warner attempted to clarify his statement by saying that Virginia has 'voter ID of one form or another' before returning to his criticism of Republican election reforms.
Warner also expressed concerns that the SAVE America Act could disenfranchise voters, particularly those who have changed their names. He highlighted discrepancies in identification requirements across states, noting that some allow gun-related IDs while excluding student IDs.
Under Virginia law, voters can present multiple forms of acceptable identification, and if they lack an ID, they can sign an ID Confirmation Statement to cast a regular ballot. The law does not mandate a photo ID for voting.