Poll shows majority of Americans think Voter ID laws are necessary

Voter ID laws look to be one of the hottest issues leading up to the general election this November, as the debate has invoked polarizing reactions citing concerns regarding race, crime and individual liberty. Earlier in the month three major corporations, following public pressure coordinated by Democrats and far left groups, stepped away from the American Legislative Exchange Council in reaction the conservative group's support of Voter ID and "Stand Your Ground" laws. Conservative citizen journalist James O'Keefe has released several recent videos aimed to reveal just how easy it is to impersonate and rob other Americans of their right to vote, having successfully caught on video officials at polling places giving members of O'Keefe's posse the ability to vote as opponents to Voter ID laws like Ben Jealous, the head of the NAACP; HBO host Bill Maher, and David Brock; leader of the left-wing organization Media Matters.

A Fox News poll released Wednesday reveals a large majority of registered voters believe Voter ID laws are needed to stop illegal voting:

"Overall, 70 percent of Americans say voter ID laws are needed to stop illegal voting.  That’s far more than the 26 percent who see the laws as a hindrance to legal voting.

An overwhelming 87-percent majority of Republicans say voter ID laws are necessary to ensure only eligible voters participate in elections.  Some 74 percent of independents and 52 percent of Democrats agree.

Democrats (44 percent) are four times as likely as Republicans (10 percent) to consider these laws an unnecessary deterrent to law-abiding citizens casting their ballot.

The poll was conducted in connection with a new documentary to air on Fox News Channel this weekend.  Hosted by Eric Shawn, it's called 'Fox News Reporting: Stealing Your Vote.'

In their increasingly heated battle, many supporters and opponents of voter ID laws are accusing the other of acting in bad faith.

The poll finds 34 percent of voters believe supporters of voter ID laws are trying to 'steal. elections by keeping eligible voters away from the polls.  Yet more people -- 50 percent -- think opponents of the laws are acting in bad faith by trying to increase participation from ineligible voters.  Some 17 percent think both supporters and opponents of voter ID laws are playing dirty.  "

Thirty-two states have now enacted Voter ID laws. Fox News notes that of these states, nine have passed the strictest legislation, which includes a requirement for voters to show a photo ID in order to vote.

The Fox News poll is based on landline and cell phone interviews with 910 randomly-chosen registered voters from April 9 to April 11, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.