Americans support SAVE America Act's photo ID requirement, but Democrats reject it

Republicans are aggressively touting a popular provision in their sweeping SAVE America Act to overhaul elections nationwide: requiring photo identification to vote.

WASHINGTON — Republicans are aggressively touting a popular provision in their sweeping SAVE America Act to overhaul elections nationwide: requiring photo identification to vote.

It’s a policy long opposed by Democrats in Congress, who liken it — along with the bill's proof of citizenship requirement to register to vote — to nefarious Jim Crow-era laws aimed at preventing African Americans from voting.

But that message is increasingly falling flat with the American public, including Black voters, as photo IDs are increasingly required for common activities, like flying.

Add NBC News to GoogleTrump’s new provisions to the SAVE America Act 'undercuts’ election message04:55A Pew Research Center poll in August tested a variety of election rules and found that 83% of U.S. adults support “requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote,” while 16% oppose it. That’s up from 77% support in a 2012 Pew poll.

Support now includes 71% of self-identified Democrats, 83% of independents and 76% of Black voters.