Senator Warner corrected on Virginia voter ID claim on ABC

Senator Mark Warner of Virginia was fact-checked live during a national television interview on Sunday, July -19, 2026, after incorrectly stating that his home state requires photo identification to vote. The exchange occurred on ABC's "This Week" during a discussion about Democratic opposition to the proposed SAVE America Act, which includes a national photo ID requirement for voter registration and voting.

Host Jonathan Karl asked Warner if Democrats should support such a requirement, citing polls showing broad public support. Warner responded by pointing to Virginia's laws, saying, "In Virginia, we have voter ID and photo ID." Karl, who identified himself as a Virginia voter, immediately corrected him, stating that was not the case. He explained that Virginia accepts a wide range of identification documents that do not necessarily include a photograph, such as utility bills or bank statements, and that voters without any acceptable ID can sign an affidavit affirming their identity to cast a regular ballot.

Warner acknowledged the affidavit process but argued that such ballots could later be contested, maintaining that Virginia has "voter ID of one form or another." The...