US SUPREME COURT ALLOWS NEW HAMPSHIRE TO REJECT STUDENT IDS

The US Supreme Court cleared the way on Thursday for New Hampshire to reject student identification cards at polling stations during November’s midterm elections. In an unsigned order, the justices granted an emergency appeal backed by the Republican National Committee. The appeal followed a lower court ruling that blocked state guidance on using student IDs as a backup identity check. The justices cited a rule against changing election procedures close to polling day. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson publicly dissented.

New Hampshire has required voters to present identification since 2012. Earlier this year, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed a law removing student IDs from the standard forms of identification accepted for a ballot. The secretary of state then issued guidance that also barred their use as a secondary check. In early October, a judge upheld the law but blocked that guidance, prompting the state’s appeal. The Supreme Court issued its order less than two weeks before New Hampshire voters choose a US senator.

Voting rights advocates say the restriction could prevent some young voters from voting if they lack a driving licence or passport. Republicans say tighter identification rules help prevent voter fraud. New Hampshire state representative Donald McFarlane said he introduced the legislation because academic institutions do not use the same credentialling standards as government agencies. He said students could obtain free state IDs and that the measure had bipartisan support. McFarlane said the change “applies the same government-issued ID standard to all voters”.