VIDEO: Dem Senate Candidate Comes Out Against Voter ID In Pivotal Debate Moment

On Oct 6, 2026

During the lightning round of Tuesday’s Maine U.S. Senate debate between Republican incumbent Susan Collins and Democratic Party challenger Troy Jackson, moderator Gregg Lagerquist asked whether voters should be required to show identification at the polls. The two candidates gave wildly different answers on the topic, producing a debate moment that was widely circulated on social media.

Jackson responded to the question by announcing his unequivocal opposition to any forms of voter ID. “No, as a working logger, many times I went to the polls without my ID. No,” Jackson responded.

Collins’ answer was almost the exact opposite of her opponent’s. “Yes, only Americans should vote in American elections. I don’t think that’s too much to ask when you go to register to vote,” the senator said.

POLL: Would You Vote Against ANY Candidate Who Calls Themselves A Socialist?

BREAKING: Democrat running for Senate in Maine, Troy Jackson, says you SHOULDN’T HAVE TO SHOW ID TO VOTE.

Host: “Should voters be required to show ID at the polls? Yes or no?”

Jackson: “No. As a working logger, many times I went to the polls without my ID.” pic.twitter.com/FxitADMSlb

— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) October 7, 2026

Collins, who has endorsed the Republican-backed SAVE America Act, has separately stated that voters should show government-issued photo identification and provide documentary proof of citizenship once, at registration. She has compared that requirement to showing identification to board a plane, buy alcohol, or check into a hotel, and has said she does not believe a one-time proof-of-citizenship rule would be burdensome.

The SAVE Act would change how people register and vote in federal elections. Under the bills, a driver’s license alone would generally not be enough to register, because most licenses do not show citizenship. Acceptable documents would include a U.S. passport, a REAL ID marked as indicating citizenship, or a government-issued photo identification presented with a record such as a birth certificate or naturalization papers.

The SAVE America Act would also require photo identification to cast a ballot

Maine’s U.S. Senate contest is among the most tightly-contested in the nation and could prove decide the balance of power in the chamber. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Collins is currently maintaining a narrow lead of 0.2 percentage points over Jackson.

More recent surveys remain within the margin of error or show small leads either way, including a Marist poll of registered voters released Oct. 6 with Jackson at 51 percent and Collins at 47 percent.

Three additional debates between the two candidates are planned between now and Election Day.