Indiana Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Student ID Voting Ban

Indiana has enacted a new law, Senate Enrolled Act 10, prohibiting college students from using university-issued IDs as valid voter identification, a change effective July 1 and signed by Gov. Mike Braun. Secretary of State Diego Morales defends the law as a measure to ensure election security by standardizing voter ID requirements and preventing the use of "unsecured" cards. However, the law has sparked a federal lawsuit filed by advocacy groups Count US IN, Women4Change Indiana, and Indiana University student Josh Montagne, who argue it constitutes a "surgical attack on young voters" and violates the 26th, 1st, and 14th Amendments. The plaintiffs contend the law unfairly singles out student IDs despite other less secure IDs remaining valid, making it harder for students, many of whom lack alternative IDs, to vote. The lawsuit also highlights practical barriers, such as the lengthy process to obtain compliant IDs like driver's licenses, and asserts the law suppresses youth voting rights. Monroe County election officials estimate that two-thirds of students used their IDs to vote in recent elections, emphasizing the potential disenfranchisement the ban could cause.