Calls for voter ID intensify

Daily News Article   —   Posted on January 8, 2026

(by Nino DeNino, WABC) — Calls for nationwide voter identification laws are intensifying after Joe Rogan and Elon Musk used a recent conversation to spotlight what they argue are dangerous loopholes in U.S. election systems – particularly in Democrat-controlled states.

During the discussion, both men zeroed in on voting rules in California and New York, where voters are generally not required to present photo identification at polling places. Rogan emphasized that in some cases, voters are not even permitted to show ID voluntarily, a policy he said defies basic election security standards. (It is illegal in California to ask for identification when voting).

“If you’re trying to facilitate fraud in elections, it’s a great idea,” Rogan said. “There’s no other reason.”

Musk agreed, arguing that eliminating ID requirements while simultaneously expanding mail-in voting creates a system vulnerable to abuse. He framed the issue as a matter of common sense, asking what safeguards would be removed if someone were deliberately trying to weaken election integrity. The answer, he suggested, would be eliminating voter ID and making ballot verification more difficult.

[Musk has repeatedly posted on X in favor of voter ID requirements in recent days, sharing the clip from February of him discussing voter ID requirements with Rogan – and responding Tuesday to an X post that asked “i have absolutely no clue why there’s pushback against [voter ID] except trump said it” – writing “voter ID is essential to stop widespread fraud.”

Musk has also been urging Californians to sign the petition for the California Voter ID Initiative, which aims to amend the state constitution to mandate government-issued photo ID for in-person voting and partial Social Security or driver’s license numbers for mail-in ballots, plus regular checks to ensure only U.S. citizens are on voter rolls.

(Under a California law that took effect on Jan. 1, 2025, local governments across California are prohibited from asking voters to show identification to cast a ballot in an election. It is illegal in California to ask voters to show ID.)

Organizers of the California Voter ID Initiative need about 875,000 valid signatures to get the petition on the November 2026 ballot. They are aiming for 1.2 million signers in total. Following Musk’s support, the initiative topped 1 million signatures as of January 7.

President Trump has been very vocal about the need to secure elections, and urged House Republicans in a speech on Tuesday to pass a national voter ID law ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.  The SAVE Act, which passed in the House in 2025 but stalled in the Senate would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. (The bill needs 60 votes to pass unless the Republican-controlled Senate ends the filibuster, The Senate is currently made up of 53 Republicans,  45 Democrats and 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats)].

Supporters of voter ID laws (Republican politicians and voters) argue that requiring identification is a minimal and reasonable step to protect public confidence in elections – one already standard in everyday activities such as flying, purchasing alcohol, or opening a bank account. They contend that resistance to voter ID comes not from concern for access, but from political calculations that benefit one party. (Scroll down in our “Voter ID” section for a video.)

Opponents of voter ID laws (most Democrat politicians and some voters) have long countered that voter ID laws could discourage turnout among certain populations [low-income, racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly, and people with disabilities], though those who support requiring voter ID argue that that claim has been repeatedly undermined by data showing broad public support for ID requirements across racial and political lines.

With trust in elections already strained, Rogan and Musk’s comments have reignited debate over whether the United States should adopt uniform national standards – or continue allowing states to operate under widely varying rules.

For advocates of voter ID, the question is simple: if elections are secure, proving who you are should not be controversial. And if it is, they argue, Americans should be asking why.

Published at WABC Radio on Jan. 7, 2026. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission.