Top Democrat Doesn’t Know His Own State’s Voter ID Policy

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) incorrectly described Virginia’s own voter identification law during a Sunday interview, prompting a correction from the host of a Democrat-friendly network.

The awkward exchange came on ABC’s “This Week“ with host Jonathan Karl, as Warner criticized President Donald Trump’s election security agenda and defended Democratic opposition to the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

Karl asked Warner whether Democrats should embrace photo voter identification requirements, noting that polls consistently show broad public support for voter ID laws.

“You know what? In Virginia, we have voter voter ID and photo ID,” Warner responded.

Karl immediately corrected the senator. “That’s actually not the case,” Karl replied. “I mean, I’m a Virginia voter. You don’t need to show a photo ID in Virginia. There are a wide range of things you can show for ID. And if you don’t show one of those, you can sign an affidavit.”

Warner attempted to recover by arguing that Virginia still has “voter ID of one form or another,” before pivoting back to criticizing Republican-backed election reforms.

ABC: “You and every other Democrat oppose the SAVE America Act… requiring photo ID to register to vote, is this Democrats should get behind?”

WARNER: “In Virginia, we have voter ID and photo ID!”

ABC: “That’s actually not the case. I’m a Virginia voter…” pic.twitter.com/jRuFt8veKw

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 19, 2026

Under Virginia law, voters may present numerous forms of acceptable identification, including certain government-issued IDs and other approved documents. If a voter does not have acceptable identification, he or she may sign an ID Confirmation Statement affirming their identity and cast a regular ballot. Virginia does not require voters to present a photo ID in order to vote.

The exchange occurred after Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, spent several minutes attacking Trump’s election security policies, arguing foreign adversaries such as Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China continue to pose cyber threats to American elections. 

Warner argued that Republicans were using the issue to suppress turnout through the SAVE America Act.

“The SAVE Act is about voter disenfranchisement,” Warner said. “The SAVE Act is going to take anybody that changed their name when they got married. They don’t get to vote unless they go back and find [proof of a name change].”

Warner also argued that some Republican-led states permit voters to use gun-related identification while refusing to accept student IDs.

“The irony here would be the case if you can show any photo that is government stamped would be fine,” Warner said. “Certain states will say we’re going to let you show your … NRA gun license but you can’t show your student ID.”

While some states do accept certain handgun carry permits as valid identification, a majority of those same states also permit qualifying student IDs for voting under specified circumstances.