Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has drawn criticism from political rivals by telling people attending one of his campaign events they must present a government-issued photo ID, even as he has positioned himself against similar requirements for voters in federal elections.

An email sent to supporters ahead of Ossoff’s Saturday rally in Atlanta said that attendees would need to show identification that exactly matched the name on the RSVP list. 

“A matching government-issued ID will be verified against the RSVP list by name to enter,” the message instructed.

That directive quickly became a point of contention on the campaign trail. 

Rep. Mike Collins, the Republican challenger seeking to unseat Ossoff in 2026, seized on the apparent contradiction. 

“Typical Jon Ossoff to say one thing and do another. It’s ridiculous that Jon Ossoff would require a government ID to listen to him speak about why you shouldn’t need a government ID to vote,” he said in a statement to Fox News.