More than one-third of registered voters statewide say they are unfamiliar with new voter identification requirements in Arizona, according to a recent telephone survey conducted by the Social Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University.

Most have heard no information on television, in newspapers or on the radio explaining which forms of ID are required to cast a ballot. When asked if they have the proper identification that will allow them to cast a ballot in Arizona, one in 10 registered voters say they are not sure, while 1 percent know they do not have the proper identification. Republicans are more familiar with the new requirements than Democrats and Independents, and are more certain they have proper identification for voting.

“Arizona is one of the first states in the nation to implement a requirement that voters show personal identification to have their ballots counted," said Fred Solop, director of the Social Research Lab. "While this new rule is consistent with the will of voters who supported Proposition 200 in 2004, the consequences of the reform are unknown. The eyes of the nation are on Arizona to see to what extent voter ID makes a difference in voter participation and election outcomes.”

Solop expressed concern that a significant proportion of voters are unsure whether they have proper identification for voting or know they do not have proper identification. “The history of election reform in the United States is one of removing barriers and encouraging more people to participate," he said. "Voter ID challenges this trend. It raises the concern that requiring voters to produce identification at the polls will create a chilling effect on participation. When people either cannot comply with new election rules or are not sure if they can comply, we are likely to see a decline in voter turnout. At least in the next few election cycles, I would not be surprised if electoral participation decreases especially among registered voters who self-identify as Democrats or Independents.”

The survey was conducted with 527 randomly selected registered voters in Arizona. Calling took place between March 3 and 7. Survey results are valid at a +/- 4.3 percent margin of error using a 95 percent confidence level.