Massachusetts Group Seeks 2026 Ballot Question on Voter ID

Nationwide polling indicates there is widespread support among American voters for photo voter ID requirements. It's not even close.

Support for voter ID laws is not new, despite claims by some that voters would feel disenfranchised if required to show a photo ID to obtain a ballot in an election. However, voters across the board seem to support voter ID.

Polling Shows Growing Bipartisan Support

For example, an August 2025 Pew Research Poll indicates, "More than nine-in-ten Republicans (95%) and about seven-in-ten Democrats (71%) favor requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote."

A Gallup Poll conducted in October 2024 shows 84 percent support across the board for photo voter ID requirements. The Gallup poll shows 66 percent of Democrats, 84 percent of independents, and 98 percent of Republicans support voter ID.

"Democrats are now 14 points more likely than they were in 2022 to support requiring voter identification to vote," according to Gallup.

How Massachusetts Compares to Other States

Currently, New Hampshire and Rhode Island are the only two New England states with statewide voter ID laws that are always in effect for in-person voting.

Massachusetts does not have a general voter ID law. While there may be specific occasions when identification is required, such as voting for the first time in a federal election, a photo ID is not required.

That could change.

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Ballot Push for 2026 Voter ID Initiative

MA 4 Fair Elections is working with the Committee for Massachusetts Voter ID Ballot Question "to organize and collect signatures to approve three ballot questions on the 2026 ballot."

MA 4 Fair Elections spokesman Jeff Cohen said one of the potential ballot questions requires all Massachusetts voters to show a photo ID when voting.

The other ballot questions would require compliance with the current absentee ballot procedures for early mail-in voting and make voter registration rolls available to the public for auditing purposes.

Where to Sign the Petition

The MA 4 Fair Elections website has details on where you can sign the petition to bring the questions to the ballot in 2026.

Listen to Jeff Cohen's appearance on The Barry Richard Show