Not Without a Real ID - 10/26/26

The Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to enforce student ID voting ban. New Hampshire's Republican Attorney General celebrated the ruling, calling it an important victory for our efforts to defend those laws and prevent last-minute court orders from creating uncertainty for voters and election officials. New Hampshire will now be able to enforce its prohibition on using student ID cards to establish voter identities in the November 3rd midterm elections. Granting state officials emergency requests and stopping a lower court order that had partially blocked the restriction.

The dispute centers on a new law which Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte signed in April. The law removed high school and college IDs from the statutory list of IDs expressly valid for obtaining a ballot. Secretary of State David Scanlon, a Republican who issued guidance to election officials that student IDs could not be used. To register to vote, request an absentee ballot, or to check in at the polls. Attorney General John Franella said, New Hampshire has a responsibility to protect the integrity of its elections and ensure that election laws are applied as written.

In other news, a Mexican national was accused of beheading an Iwo Jima memorial statue near the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. Today is also the feast of Pope St. Averastus, the fourth successor of St. Peter. He shepherded Christians through suspicion. and persecution. He organized ministries to strengthen the church and protect sacramental life. Giving his life for the gospel, he models brave faith, reverence for the Eucharist, and selfless service and leadership. I'm Josh Mercer, editor of The Loop, taking you behind the headlines.

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