Indiana’s Ban on College IDs at Polls Threatens Student Voter Turnout

Indiana’s Republican-controlled legislature and courts have dealt a blow to student voters by banning college-issued IDs as acceptable voter identification. The Senate Enrolled Act 10, passed last April, was briefly blocked by a district court but reinstated by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals just one day before Purdue University’s early voting began.

Attorney General Todd Rokita hailed the ruling as a “common-sense protection” to close loopholes and prevent fraud by out-of-state or ineligible voters. But Purdue political science professor James A. McCann dismantles that argument, stating flatly, “It’s absolutely clear that voter fraud is all but nonexistent.” McCann warns that this law will likely depress turnout, especially among young voters who rely on student IDs.

The law’s timing and enforcement come amid ongoing battles over voting access on Purdue’s campus. Earlier in 2024, a dispute between the university and the local election board nearly cost students their on-campus voting site. After public outcry, early voting was restored at the CoRec and a nearby church.

Data from Tippecanoe County election official Mike Smith shows that while many young voters cast ballots at these sites, only one attempted to use a student ID — that voter was directed to obtain a free state ID. This suggests the law’s immediate impact may be limited but the broader chilling effect on student participation is concerning.

State Senator Spencer Deery, a law supporter facing a tough primary challenge, represents the district including Purdue, highlighting the political stakes involved. This move to restrict voting rights under the guise of election integrity is a familiar tactic in Republican-led states aiming to suppress demographics likely to vote against them.

Indiana’s ban on student IDs is yet another front in the nationwide effort to erect barriers to the ballot box. It undermines democratic participation, especially among young voters, and feeds into the dangerous myth of widespread voter fraud used to justify ever-tightening restrictions. We will keep tracking these attacks on voting rights and holding officials accountable for policies that threaten our democracy.