The Vast Majority of Americans Favor Photo ID Requirements, Proof of Citizenship for Voting: Gallup

by Seamus Othot | Oct 25, 2024

A national poll released by Gallup on Thursday found that the vast majority of Americans support photo Identification requirements at polling locations and proof of citizenship for anyone registering to vote for the first time.

A staggering 84 percent of Americans believe that everyone should have to provide a photo ID at their polling location in order to vote.

Almost as many, 83 percent, want everyone registering to vote for the first time to provide proof of citizenship.

When Gallup broke down the numbers by party affiliation, they found that even the majority of Democrats support photo ID—67 percent—and proof of citizenship, 68 percent.

Democratic politicians have consistently opposed election integrity measures such as proof of citizenship and photo ID laws.

Historically, left-wing activists and politicians have argued against voter ID laws, claiming that they discriminate against racial minorities and suggesting that minorities are somehow less capable of acquiring common forms of photo ID than white people.

The Gallup poll seems to contradict that argument, finding that 80 percent of people of color support voter ID requirements, and 76 percent support proof of citizenship requirements.

The poll also found overwhelming support for early voting, with 76 percent of respondents wanting every American to have the chance to vote before election day.

A significant 60 percent majority wants anyone doing business with their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or other state agencies to be automatically registered to vote.

The same percentage wants absentee ballot applications automatically sent to every eligible voter, regardless of whether the voters request them.

A significant minority, 40 percent, supported limiting the number of ballot drop boxes and locations for returning absentee ballots, intending to protect against mail-in ballot fraud.

Even fewer respondents, 35 percent, supported states scrubbing their voter rolls of anyone who had not voted in five years.

Currently, Maine law does not require a photo ID when registering to vote and does not require any form of proof of citizenship other than a simple checkbox asking whether the applicant is a citizen.

Seamus Othot is a reporter for The Maine Wire. He grew up in New Hampshire, and graduated from The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, where he was able to spend his time reading the great works of Western Civilization. He can be reached at [email protected]

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