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Politics · October 22, 2026

GOP election official's ‘misleading’ info passes Supreme Court muster days before midterms

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The U.S. Supreme Court issued an unsigned order allowing New Hampshire to enforce a full ban on the use of student IDs as a form of voter identification for the 2026 midterm elections. The ruling stays a lower court decision that would have blocked state guidance prohibiting student IDs as backup identification. In its brief decision, the majority cited the 'Purcell principle,' which discourages federal courts from altering election rules shortly before an election. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the sole dissenter, arguing that the lower court's order did not change election rules but rather sought to provide accurate information to voters. The emergency request was brought by New Hampshire officials and supported by the Republican National Committee.

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Reported across the spectrum

  • The Supreme Court ruled that student IDs cannot be used to prove identity for voting in New Hampshire this November.
  • The order was unsigned and granted an emergency request from state officials.
  • The ruling cited the Purcell principle regarding late changes to election rules.
  • The Republican National Committee supported the state's request.
  • Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the lone dissenter.
  • A state law passed in April 2026 removed student IDs from the list of expressly accepted identification forms.

Reported by only some outlets

  • The New Hampshire ballot includes a Senate race between Republican John E. Sununu and Democrat Chris Pappas for a seat held by retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
  • A CNN poll indicates Democrats have a 31-point lead over Republicans among younger adults in New Hampshire.
  • U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante, who issued the blocked lower court order, was appointed by George W. Bush.
  • The state law remained in place for the September primary elections before being blocked by a federal judge in October.

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