Student IDs are once again banned for use in Indiana, barely two weeks before elections.
Monday, the U.S. Appeals Court for the Seventh Circuit overruled Judge Richard Young. His decision last week briefly allowed student IDs to be used in voting, arguing that the ban amounted to an “unconstitutional burden.”
In a post on social media, Attorney General Todd Rokita celebrated the decision from the appeals court, calling it a “big win for election integrity.”
“This commonsense protection is needed to close loopholes, prevent potential fraud by out-of-state or ineligible voters, ensure every ballot belongs to a verified Hoosier, and preserve public confidence in fair, honest, and transparent elections,” Rokita wrote.
Voter advocacy groups and an Indiana University student sued the state last year following the passage of legislation that blocked the use of student IDs in voting on the grounds that it didn’t prove someone was an Indiana resident.
Many state Democrats at the time noted that student voters would already have to prove residency when registering to vote, and the legislation seemed to target young voters.
In last week's decision, Judge Young sided with those arguments, adding that the law would likely impact some 40,000 student voters.
“SB 10 marked the first time that Indiana singled out a previously acceptable form of ID and barred its use at the polls,” Young wrote. “Students are the only group that are told that their widely held, government-issued ID cannot be used to vote.”
Jalyn Radziminski, policy director for Count US Indiana, called the decision a “setback.”
“We remain firmly committed to this case and will keep fighting to permanently block SB 10 and ensure every Hoosier has a fair opportunity to make their voice heard,” she said.
Early voting is already underway in Indiana, and the Indiana University Student involved in the lawsuit, Josh Montagne, said he’s already voted. He declined to comment for this story because he’s part of the ongoing litigation.
Indiana's primary election is Tuesday, May 5.
Contact Government Reporter Benjamin Thorp at bthorp@wfyi.org
