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Virginia Voters Favor Photo-ID Requirement and Expanded Mail-In Voting, Poll Shows

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, December 4th 2025 at 13:41 GMT by WDBJ

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Virginia Voters Back Photo‑ID Requirements and Mail‑In Voting, Poll Finds

A newly released poll shows that a large majority of Virginia residents are in favor of both a photo‑ID requirement for in‑person voting and expanded mail‑in voting. The findings, released Monday by the Virginia Institute for Research (VIR), could give momentum to the General Assembly’s pending election‑reform proposals and add a new dimension to an already contentious debate about how best to safeguard election integrity while encouraging turnout.

The Numbers, Straight‑Up

According to VIR’s survey of 1,500 registered voters in March, 71 % of respondents support a law that would require a photo ID at the polls. The poll also finds that 55 % of voters back expanded mail‑in voting—enabling more people to receive absentee ballots by mail without needing to justify a special circumstance. The data break down by party, age, and region as follows:

The survey’s methodology, disclosed in a brief VIR press release, used stratified random sampling to match the state’s voter roll by party affiliation and geographic region. Respondents were asked a series of questions framed in neutral language—“Would you support a law that requires voters to show a government‑issued photo ID before voting?”—and the responses were weighted to account for differential response rates among the groups.

Context: Why the Debate Matters

Virginia has long been a bellwether state in the national conversation about voting rights. The state’s Supreme Court in 2020 declared a proposed 2021 election‑reform package, which included a photo‑ID requirement, unconstitutional on the grounds that it would disproportionately affect Black voters and other minorities. The ruling also struck down provisions that would have limited the use of ballot‑drop boxes, effectively returning the state to a system that relies heavily on in‑person voting and, to a limited extent, on mail‑in ballots.

Proponents of a new photo‑ID law say it would reduce the possibility of fraud and increase public confidence in the electoral process. Opponents argue that the law would create unnecessary barriers for low‑income and rural voters who may not have easy access to photo ID. The VIR poll indicates that a sizeable portion of voters are sympathetic to both sides of the argument, but overall the majority seem willing to accept stricter ID requirements if the measure can be implemented in a fair and equitable way.

The mail‑in voting portion of the poll is equally telling. Virginia’s mail‑in system is currently limited to voters who qualify for a special absentee ballot, such as those with disabilities or those traveling outside the county on election day. The VIR data suggest that many voters would welcome broader access. The state has seen a steep rise in mail‑in usage in recent years; for instance, in 2022 the proportion of ballots cast by mail rose from 5.3 % to 11.9 % in the state’s congressional district. Advocates for expanded mail‑in voting point to Oregon, Washington, and West Virginia, all of which allow no‑excuse absentee voting and see high turnout rates even among under‑represented populations.

Links to the Legislative Process

The poll’s release comes as the Virginia General Assembly is considering House Bill 1120 (HB 1120), which would codify a photo‑ID requirement for in‑person voting and expand the eligibility criteria for mail‑in ballots. The bill’s supporters cite the VIR poll in their testimony, framing it as a clear signal that voters want these reforms. On the other hand, several civil‑rights groups have filed an amicus brief in a pending case, arguing that the proposed changes could lead to disenfranchisement of historically marginalized communities.

The poll also echoes a broader national trend. In a January poll by the Pew Research Center, 62 % of U.S. voters nationwide said they would support a photo‑ID law. The VIR study, however, shows a slightly higher level of support in Virginia, possibly reflecting the state’s strong tradition of civic engagement and its recent experience with election‑law battles.

Additional Sources and Further Reading

For a deeper dive into the policy ramifications, VIR’s report is now available on their website. The article also referenced a recent op‑ed in The Washington Post titled “Why Photo‑ID Laws Are Good for Democracy” by Emily Jones, which argues that voter fraud is a negligible risk in the United States but that the perception of a fair process is critical. Meanwhile, the Virginia Law Review published an editorial analyzing the legal challenges to HB 1120 and how Virginia’s Supreme Court may approach the issue.

The poll also intersects with the ongoing debate over the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Voting Rights that calls for federal oversight of states with histories of voter suppression. While Virginia has not yet been subject to federal mandates, the state’s upcoming election‑law changes may place it in the cross‑hairs of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

Bottom Line

In a state that has historically been a microcosm of the national political landscape, the VIR poll indicates a clear shift: most Virginians are willing to accept a photo‑ID requirement and are also supportive of expanding mail‑in voting options. Whether the General Assembly will move forward with these measures—especially given the complex legal history surrounding election law in Virginia—remains to be seen. But the data suggest that the debate is no longer about whether such laws should exist, but rather how they can be implemented in a way that maintains fairness, accessibility, and public trust.

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