Voter ID Support Amid Legislative Discussions
As Congress discusses the SAVE America Act, which mandates photo identification for voting in federal elections, new polling suggests significant backing for this measure. President Donald Trump emphasized its importance during a prime-time address on July 16, urging citizens to advocate for the bill’s approval, citing issues in the election system. While the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill in February, it has yet to advance in the Senate. The polling took place following Trump’s address from July 17 to 20, 2026.
A recent survey shows that roughly 80% of registered voters favor requiring photo IDs—83% for registration and 77% for voting. Historical data from Fox News polls indicates consistent support for voter ID laws, with figures typically ranging from 77% to 85% since 2011.
According to Daron Shaw, a Republican pollster involved in the study, the ongoing inability to compromise reflects a broader issue of gridlock and polarization, even when a majority agrees on certain policies. Support for voter ID spans various political affiliations but with differing intensity. Close to all registered Republicans (96%) advocate for mandatory IDs, while around 83% of independents share this view. Democratic support is slightly lower at 72% for registration and 62% for voting. Other demographic groups, like Hispanic voters and those under 30, also show considerable support.
Looking ahead to the midterm elections, 76% of voters feel assured about their ability to cast a ballot, yet only 61% believe that measures are in place to prevent ineligible voters from participating. Confidence varies, with Republicans expressing less assurance compared to their Democratic and independent counterparts regarding the issue of ineligible voting.
In terms of voting methods, about 64% of those surveyed support universal mail-in voting, reflecting no change since September 2025. However, there are clear partisan divides—90% of Democrats and 70% of independents back mail-in voting, in contrast to roughly 60% of Republicans who oppose it. While most show support for mail-in voting, opinions on its accuracy are mixed. A slim majority, 51%, trust the accuracy of mail-in tallies, although that drops among Republicans and independents who are more doubtful.
Furthermore, many voters prefer to count ballots postmarked by Election Day, even if they arrive late; 70% support this, including a majority of Democrats (88%) and independents (74%); nearly half of Republicans (53%) do not agree. A recent Supreme Court ruling upheld a Mississippi law permitting such late counts if postmarked on time.
Interestingly, voters generally feel more secure about the accuracy of their state’s vote count (64%) than the national count (53%). While Democrats tend to trust both levels fairly equally, Republicans and independents show stronger confidence in state counts. There’s a clear preference for state governments having authority over elections, with 68% supporting this notion compared to 31% favoring federal control, a sentiment echoed across major political groups.
Overall, 60% of respondents express confidence that the final vote count will be fair, even if it takes extra time post-Election Day. While 70% of Democrats feel assured, more than half of Republicans do not share this sentiment, and independents are split.
The Fox News polling, overseen by Beacon Research and Shaw & Company, interviewed 1,003 registered voters selected from nationwide voter files between July 17 and 20, 2026. The margin of error is ±3 percentage points. An additional oversample of 200 younger voters aged 18 to 29 offers a more precise view for that demographic.
