Court voids citizenship voter proof
Arizona law violates federal registration act, judges say; secretary of state vows to appeal
A federal appeals court on Tuesday threw out a state mandate for people to provide proof of citizenship before they can register to vote.
In a divided decision, two members of the three-judge 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel found the requirement, approved by Arizona voters in 2004, violates the federal National Voter Registration Act, which spells out what states can and cannot require to vote in federal elections.
Judge Sandra Ikuta, writing the majority decision, concluded the requirement to produce one of a list of specified documents proving citizenship is not allowed.
That conclusion drew derision from Secretary of State Ken Bennett who oversees elections. He said the proof is necessary to protect the integrity of elections. He compared the ruling to allowing people going through airports unchecked, as long as they sign a certificate vowing they are not terrorists and aren’t carrying explosives. He plans to appeal.
Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, who wrote the 2004 measure, said the ruling “flies in the face of common sense.”
“It should go without saying that states have the right to ensure that only citizens vote,” he said.
And now… the rest of the story. …..
Harold
