Indiana defends excluding student IDs as voter identification; challengers say it burdens students
Indiana says its student-ID voting restriction applies the same rules to university voters as everyone else. Challengers say obtaining replacement identification burdens students. An appellate stay leaves the restriction operating while the constitutional challenge continues.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Count US IN, Women4Change Indiana and student Josh Montagne challenged Senate Bill 10 in May 2025. The law excludes documents issued by educational institutions from the identification accepted at polling places.
In its April 14 preliminary ruling (opens in a new tab), the district court found likely success on the First and Fourteenth Amendment claim. The Seventh Circuit stayed that injunction on April 20 (opens in a new tab). The panel relied on Purcell, which cautions against federal courts changing election rules close to an election. Early voting was already under way. The stay permits enforcement during the appeal.
At the October 27 argument in No. 26-1783 (opens in a new tab), Solicitor General James Barta defended the same identification requirements for university voters and other voters. Aria Branch argued that students face particular difficulties assembling the documents needed for alternative IDs. The United States' amicus brief (opens in a new tab) supports the state; the appellees' brief (opens in a new tab) defends the injunction.
The appeal concerns the preliminary injunction. The stay does not resolve the final merits.
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: May 5, 2025 to October 27, 2026
May 2025
Count US IN and fellow plaintiffs challenge the student-ID exclusion
The plaintiffs challenge the exclusion of student identification from accepted voting documents.
[01]Count US IN district-court docket
The docket identifies Josh Montagne and records the complaint filing date.
Count US IN district-court docketCase caption and Filing 1, May 5, 2025
April 2026
District court preliminarily blocks the student-ID exclusion
Judge Richard Young finds likely success on the undue-burden claim and grants an injunction.
[02]District court blocks Indiana's exclusion of student IDs
The court finds likely success on the undue-burden claim and grants preliminary relief.
District court blocks Indiana's exclusion of student IDsECF 98, April 14, 2026, pages 1-2 and 33-34Seventh Circuit permits enforcement during the appeal
The panel stays the injunction under Purcell, citing disruption to an election in which early voting had already begun.
[03]Seventh Circuit stays the Indiana student-ID injunction
The panel permits the law to operate during the appeal.
Seventh Circuit stays the Indiana student-ID injunctionNo. 26-1783, April 20 opinion
October 2026
Seventh Circuit hears Count US IN v. Morales
Barta defends the restriction and Branch argues it creates unjustified burdens for students.
[04]Count US IN v. Morales oral argument
The court's complete audio records both advocates and the judges' questions.
Count US IN v. Morales oral argumentNo. 26-1783; Barta opening argument 00:59-02:37; Branch on ID documents 18:10-19:06 and identity verification 34:16-36:56; full argument 42:05[05]CNS reports the Indiana student-ID appellate argument
The report records both advocates' arguments.
CNS reports the Indiana student-ID appellate argumentOctober 27 report, Barta and Branch quotations
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Count US IN
Indiana's student-ID exclusion imposes constitutionally unjustified voting burdens.
What is disputed
The plaintiffs defend the injunction; Indiana and the United States dispute that assessment.
Sources (3)
- Count US IN and fellow plaintiffs defend the injunctionNo. 26-1783, document 42, filed July 15, 2026; brief of appellees
- DOJ supports Indiana's student-ID restriction · United States Department of JusticeAmicus brief dated June 22, 2026; Section III heading, printed page 16; date on signature page 20
- District court blocks Indiana's exclusion of student IDsECF 98, April 14, 2026, pages 1-2 and 33-34
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
3 responses. Newest first.
James BartaIndiana solicitor generalDirectly involved Before this statement
Barta opens by invoking Crawford's approval of requiring voters to present identification issued by the state license branch or the federal government.
"Indiana's Senate Bill 10 provides that all students, staff and faculty at public universities must present the same types of IDs as other voters"
Defended or excusedCase context: Indiana defends excluding student IDs as voter identification; challengers say it burdens students
Full statement and sources
Barta defends the restriction as consistent with the identification requirements other voters face.
After the statement
He argues that the district court made four errors in enjoining the statute.
Count US IN v. Morales oral argumentNo. 26-1783; Barta opening argument 00:59-02:37; Branch on ID documents 18:10-19:06 and identity verification 34:16-36:56; full argument 42:05Why this label?
Relative to the exclusion of student IDs, he defends applying the same identification requirements to university voters and other voters.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Aria BranchCounsel for Count US IN and fellow appellees; Elias Law Group partnerDirectly involved Before this statement
Branch says the purpose of photo identification is to verify a voter's identity and that student IDs serve that function.
"There's no reason why it alone needed to be banned."
CondemnedCase context: Indiana defends excluding student IDs as voter identification; challengers say it burdens students
Full statement and sources
Branch argues that student IDs serve the same identification function as other IDs Indiana accepts and should not be excluded.
After the statement
Barta questions the evidence for how many students possess physical student ID cards.
Count US IN v. Morales oral argumentNo. 26-1783; Barta opening argument 00:59-02:37; Branch on ID documents 18:10-19:06 and identity verification 34:16-36:56; full argument 42:05Why this label?
She expressly argues against banning student IDs, saying they serve the same identity-verification function as the other accepted forms.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
United States Department of JusticeUnited States, as amicus curiaeBefore this statement
The brief argues that states may act to prevent election fraud without waiting for it to occur.
"By banning the use of educational photo identifications at the polls, Indiana has made voter fraud more difficult."
Defended or excusedCase context: Indiana defends excluding student IDs as voter identification; challengers say it burdens students
Full statement and sources
The United States argues that excluding educational photo IDs makes voter fraud more difficult.
After the statement
The brief says that the rarity of in-person voter fraud in Indiana does not defeat the state's justification.
DOJ supports Indiana's student-ID restriction · United States Department of JusticeAmicus brief dated June 22, 2026; Section III heading, printed page 16; date on signature page 20Why this label?
It defends the student-ID restriction and seeks reversal of the injunction.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(7)
Original video
Count US IN v. Morales oral argument
Relevant passage: No. 26-1783; Barta opening argument 00:59-02:37; Branch on ID documents 18:10-19:06 and identity verification 34:16-36:56; full argument 42:05
About this source
The court's complete audio records both advocates and the judges' questions.
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Count US IN district-court docket
Relevant passage: Case caption and Filing 1, May 5, 2025
About this source
The docket identifies Josh Montagne and records the complaint filing date.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
CNS reports the Indiana student-ID appellate argument
Relevant passage: October 27 report, Barta and Branch quotations
About this source
The report records both advocates' arguments.
- Author
- Caitlyn Rosen
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
DOJ supports Indiana's student-ID restriction
Relevant passage: Amicus brief dated June 22, 2026; Section III heading, printed page 16; date on signature page 20
About this source
The United States argues that the injunction misapplies the constitutional standard.
- Published
- Accessed
oct28-indianaDOJ.pdf · application/pdf
Original text
Count US IN and fellow plaintiffs defend the injunction
Relevant passage: No. 26-1783, document 42, filed July 15, 2026; brief of appellees
About this source
The plaintiffs present their voting-burden argument and defend the district court's findings.
- Author
- Aria C. Branch and co-counsel
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Seventh Circuit stays the Indiana student-ID injunction
Relevant passage: No. 26-1783, April 20 opinion
About this source
The panel permits the law to operate during the appeal.
- Published
- Accessed
oct28-indianaStay.pdf · application/pdf
Original text
District court blocks Indiana's exclusion of student IDs
Relevant passage: ECF 98, April 14, 2026, pages 1-2 and 33-34
About this source
The court finds likely success on the undue-burden claim and grants preliminary relief.
- Author
- Richard L. Young
- Published
- Accessed
oct28-indianaPI.pdf · application/pdf
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Indiana defends excluding student IDs as voter identification; challengers say it burdens students
- First published
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The Dispute Index. "Indiana defends excluding student IDs as voter identification; challengers say it burdens students". First published: 2026-10-29. Last updated: 2026-10-29. https://disputeindex.com/cases/indiana-excludes-student-id-voter-identification-count-us-in-morales