Supreme Court Allows New Hampshire to Bar Student IDs for Voting

Source reports published 23 Oct 2026, 9:31 am – 9:53 am AEST

The Supreme Court ruled that New Hampshire can prohibit the use of student identification cards as a form of voter identification. This decision reversed a federal judge’s order that had previously blocked the state’s law barring student IDs.

What happened

• The Supreme Court granted a request by New Hampshire to maintain its law barring the use of student IDs as a form of identification for voters.
• The justices invoked the "Purcell principle," citing a 2020 decision that discourages federal courts from altering election rules close to an election.
• Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, arguing the principle did not apply to this case.
• Republican New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella praised the ruling, stating it protects the integrity of elections and prevents uncertainty for voters and election officials.
• The state’s law, enacted in April, had previously been in place for the primary elections in September, but a judge blocked it earlier this month.

Original reporting

• CBS News: Supreme Court rules New Hampshire can ban use of student IDs for midterm voters
  2026-10-22T23:53:00+00:00
• Washington Examiner: Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to bar student IDs for voting
  2026-10-22T23:31:50+00:00