The Supreme Court has partially reinstated a 2022 voting law in Arizona, designed to enforce proof of citizenship in state elections.
However, the law has not been fully implemented, allowing Arizonians to register for federal elections without proof of citizenship, while requiring it for state election forms.
According to The Post Millennial, the Supreme Court upheld a provision of the GOP-backed 2022 law, which stipulates that Arizona officials must reject state voter registration forms if a voter fails to provide proof of citizenship. However, another provision of the law was not upheld, allowing individuals to register to vote in the presidential election without proof of citizenship, provided they use a separate federal voter registration form in Arizona.
Arizona operates a dual-track system for voting, with separate registration forms for federal and state elections. This court decision is the latest development in a longstanding dispute over voting laws in the state. As reported by NPR, Arizona's state law mandates documentary proof when registering to vote in state and local elections. Prior to the Supreme Court ruling, eligible voters who submitted the state's registration form without proof of citizenship were registered for federal elections only.
The contested law aimed to exclude those who were registered for federal elections but lacked proof of citizenship. However, this provision was not upheld by the Supreme Court. The dual-track system is a product of a protracted disagreement about proof of citizenship requirements.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that Arizona must use a standard federal form, which does not require proof of citizenship, only a signed declaration under penalty of perjury that the voter is a US citizen.
However, in 2022, the GOP in Arizona passed a law intending to prohibit registered voters without proof of citizenship from voting in presidential elections or by mail for a federal office such as the Senate. This law subsequently faced legal challenges.
As reported, as of July 1, 42,301 voters in the state were registered for federal elections only and could have been blocked by the law if they lacked proof of citizenship, had the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the law.
The Supreme Court order indicated that "Justice Thomas, Justice Alito, and Justice Gorsuch would grant the application in full," while "Justice Sotomayor, Justice Kagan, Justice Barrett, and Justice Jackson would deny the application in full." Justice Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts offered a compromise with their deciding votes. This decision reflects the ongoing debate over voting rights and the balance between ensuring electoral integrity and facilitating voter participation.
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