Judge allows states to ask about US citizenship on voter forms

Thursday, March 20, 2014  

A federal judge ordered the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to allow the states of Arizona and Kansas to ask voters to prove they are U.S. citizens.

In Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, the U.S. Supreme Court said federal law pre-empted the state of Arizona from including citizenship questions on its voter forms.

But in the new case, a federal judge said the Election Assistance Commission must include language on a national voter registration form that incorporates Arizona's and Kansas's citizenship requirements. Voters in those states must provide a birth certificate, passport or other documentation, the Associated Press reported.

Arizona is still planning to create separate forms for local and federal elections because an appeal in the new case is likely.

Get the Story:
Kansas, Arizona prevail in voter citizenship suit (AP 3/19)
Federal judge: Ariz., Kansas can require voters prove citizenship (The Arizona Republic 3/20)
Two States Win Court Approval on Voter Rules (The New York Times 3/20)

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