Supreme Court Blocks Student IDs in New Hampshire Voting as Senate Race Nears 1 Month

Q: What alternative proofs of identity remain for New Hampshire students navigating the safety-valve voting provision?

New Hampshire students who cannot use a student ID under the safety-valve provision still must rely on other evidence that election officials find reasonably persuasive. The governing standard in state law is “any other evidence” that makes it more likely than not that the voter is who they claim to be. In practice, that means students can still use the regular accepted government-issued IDs, such as a driver’s license or a passport, if they have them. If they do not, they may try to verify identity through other non-student documentation or evidence that election officials are willing to consider under the safety valve. The sources provided do not give a fixed substitute list, but they make clear that student IDs are excluded for now, even as backup evidence. The searched material also notes that identity is only one part of eligibility. A person seeking to vote in New Hampshire must also show they are at least 18, live in the place where they are registering, and are a U.S. citizen. For citizenship specifically, voters without documentary proof may sign an affidavit attesting to citizenship. So, after the Supreme Court’s stay, the practical alternatives for students are government-issued photo ID if available, or other non-student evidence sufficient to satisfy local officials under the safety-valve standard, while using affidavits where state law separately allows them.

3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Oct 22

An Oct. 2 lower-court ruling that would have let New Hampshire voters use student ID cards to help prove eligibility was put on hold by the Supreme Court on Thursday.
The court said the federal judge’s order came too close to the election to take effect, applying the principle against changing voting rules shortly before ballots are cast.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the order, which handed Republicans a win in a state where Democrats are defending a Senate seat next month.