Supreme Court Upholds Part of Arizona Law on Voter Citizenship Proof
The U.S. Supreme Court has partially revived an Arizona law that requires proof of citizenship for voter registration. In a narrow 5-4 decision, the court sided with a Republican request to reinstate parts of a 2022 state law that had previously been blocked.
The ruling reactivates a provision that mandates Arizonans provide documentation proving their U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. However, the court declined to reinstate a related provision that would have required voters using a federal form to submit similar proof. This decision affects over 41,000 individuals who could have been excluded from voting in the upcoming presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump if the entire law had been restored.
The Biden administration, which challenged the law, argued it violated the 1993 National Voter Registration Act. This federal law was designed to make voter registration more accessible by allowing individuals to register with minimal documentation. President Biden narrowly won Arizona in the 2020 election, and his administration has actively opposed state measures that it views as restrictive.
Michael Whatley, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, celebrated the court’s decision, calling it a “major victory for election integrity,” emphasizing that only U.S. citizens should have a say in American elections. The ruling is unlikely to impact voters already registered, as noted by the Arizona Republic newspaper, and is seen as more symbolic in its immediate effect.
Arizona’s former Republican Governor Doug Ducey, who signed the law in March 2022, argued it balanced voting accessibility with the need for secure elections. However, the law faced opposition from the Biden administration and various advocacy groups, leading to a legal battle that culminated in Thursday’s Supreme Court decision.
Previously, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton had ruled against the law’s requirements, a decision that was upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. However, the emergency request by the Republican National Committee prompted a review by the Supreme Court, resulting in this latest ruling.
The decision highlights Arizona’s ongoing role as a battleground in the fight over voting rights and election laws, particularly in light of its status as a highly competitive state in upcoming elections. Despite a Republican-led audit finding no evidence of fraud in the 2020 election, the debate over voter integrity and access continues to be a contentious issue in the state.
