Rasmussen Poll: 70% Say Photo ID Laws Don't Discriminate

An overwhelming number of voters support laws that require showing a photo ID before voting. A new Rasmussen Reports poll of likely voters found that 70 percent approved of such laws while just 22 percent opposed them.

The finding comes on the heels of Attorney General Eric Holder’s announcement that the Justice Department would examine such laws for racial bias. Nonetheless, the laws receive support from a majority  across the political spectrum, with 92 percent of Republicans supporting the laws, 64 percent of Independents and 54 percent of Democrats.

Regardless, support for voter ID laws has slipped in surveys conducted since June 2006 when support was at 82 percent.

Despite the announcement by the attorney general, just 22 percent believe the laws discriminate against minorities while 69 percent believe they do not. However, 67 percent of African Americans believe the laws will prevent a substantial number of eligible voters from voting and 55 percent of African Americans think the laws discriminate.

The survey, conducted December 18-19, polled 1,000 likely voters.