Democrats lost the voter ID debate. Move on.

Indiana is tightening its voter ID laws with Senate Bill 10, which would ban the use of college-issued student IDs for voting. Authored by Republican Sen. Blake Doriot, the bill now awaits Governor Mike Braun’s signature. If signed, college students will need a government-issued photo ID like a driver’s license or passport to vote. While Democrats have criticized the bill as another form of voter suppression — especially in a state with historically low voter turnout — evidence suggests voter ID laws have minimal effect on turnout or election outcomes. Despite partisan debates, these laws remain broadly popular across party lines, with a significant majority of Americans supporting ID requirements at the polls, summarizing Jim Brigg from Indystar.com.

The controversy largely boils down to political optics: Republicans see college students, who lean liberal, as a threat, while Democrats want to remove barriers that might discourage student voting. But in practical terms, the impact is expected to be minimal — most students have access to valid IDs and often choose not to vote regardless. The bigger issue is the disproportionate attention given to a policy that polls well and causes little actual harm. Democrats, unable to prove widespread disenfranchisement and unwilling to concede on principle, continue to oppose a law the public largely accepts. In the end, this debate may be more symbolic than consequential.