59.5% of Iowa Democrats Support Voter ID

Council Bluffs, Iowa – February 14, 2012 – A new poll released this week by the Legacy Foundation shows that 76 percent of Iowans support a requirement to show photo identification before being allowed to vote. The poll also shows that this issue crosses party lines with 59.5 percent of Democrats supporting voter identification.

“I have been fighting for Voter ID now for a year as Secretary of State. Everywhere I go I am asked by Iowans who would be against such a common sense bill? With 76% support among Iowans, including 59.5% support among Iowa Democrats, it is time for the Iowa Senate to bring my Voter ID bill out of committee and to the floor for an up or down vote,” said Secretary of State Matt Schultz.

The Iowa specific Voter ID poll was commissioned by the Legacy Foundation and was a live operator poll conducted between February 6-7 with a sample size of 600 respondents and a margin of error of +/-4 percent. The sample was taken of 35% Democrats, 34% Republicans, and 31% no party. The respondents were asked: Should voters be required to show photo identification such as a driver’s license before being allowed to vote?

Yes (76%)
No (20.3%)
Not Sure (3.7%)

The full results of the poll and its cross tabs are located at http://legacyfoundation.us/poll-shows-iowans-support-voter-verification/
Similar results have occurred in national polls conducted by Rasmussen:

On December 20, 2011 – 70% agree and 22% disagree – 1,000 likely voters; +/- 3 MOE.http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/december_2011/69_say_photo_id_voting_laws_are_not_discriminatory

On June 9, 2011 – 75% agree 18% disagree – 1,000 likely voters; +/- 3 MOE.http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/june_2011/75_support_showing_photo_id_at_the_polls