Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., faced a correction from ABC News anchor Jon Karl on Sunday regarding Virginia's voter ID laws, a moment his Republican opponents are using to pressure him to support the SAVE Act, a bill focused on election security.
During an appearance on ABC's "This Week," Warner asserted that Virginia has voter and photo ID requirements. Karl, identifying himself as a Virginia voter, stated that "You don't need to show voter-ID in Virginia — There are a wide range of things you can show for it." He added that voters can cast a provisional ballot if they sign an affidavit.
According to the Virginia Department of Elections, acceptable forms of identification include documents that do not require a photograph, such as a utility bill. Voters lacking acceptable identification can cast a regular ballot by signing an ID Confirmation Statement under penalty of felony, or a provisional ballot if they provide neither.
Warner argued that the SAVE Act, part of a Republican-led election security initiative, could disenfranchise voters. He pointed to Senator Lisa Murkowski's, R-Alaska, opposition as evidence of bipartisan concern. The SAVE Act proposes requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections.
Warner's Republican challengers have seized on the exchange. Marine Reserves Lt. Col. David Williams, a candidate seeking to unseat Warner, stated, "It's astonishing that a man who has spent nearly two decades representing Virginia in the United States Senate doesn't even know Virginia's own voter ID laws." Williams added, "If Senator Mark Warner can't get a basic fact about our elections right on national television, how can Virginians trust him to protect the integrity of those elections?"
Williams, an Iraq War veteran, described the SAVE Act as a "common-sense" measure to secure elections. He urged Warner to support the bill if he believes only U.S. citizens should vote in American elections.
Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa (Ret.), another Republican candidate challenging Warner, echoed Williams' criticism. Mizusawa stated, "The biggest takeaway is that Mark Warner opposes the SAVE America Act, which is required to secure America’s defining democratic process: honest elections that reflect the will of legitimate voters."
Mizusawa questioned Warner's stance, suggesting he either acknowledges current election flaws and accepts them or remains ignorant, both to the detriment of the American people. He pledged to support the SAVE Act if elected to "finally secure our federal elections."
Tech executive Kim Farington, also running for the Republican nomination, commented on social media that Warner either misunderstands Virginia's voter ID requirements or is being untruthful. Republicans argue the SAVE Act is necessary for election security, while Democrats contend it could create barriers for eligible voters.