The Supreme Court grants partial victory to Republicans in Arizona voter citizenship case, allowing enforcement of one key provision.
At a Glance
- Supreme Court allows Arizona to enforce proof of citizenship for state voter registration forms.
- 5-4 ruling keeps two other provisions on hold, including requirements for federal elections.
- RNC hails decision as a win for election integrity; Democrats warn of voter confusion.
- Over 40,000 Arizona voters registered without proof of citizenship could be affected.
Supreme Court Ruling on Arizona Voter Citizenship Law
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court has partially granted the Republican National Committee’s request to enforce Arizona’s proof of U.S. citizenship requirement for voter registration. The ruling allows one of three provisions of the state law to be enforced, specifically requiring proof of citizenship for state registration forms.
The conservative-leaning majority, consisting of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh, supported the partial enforcement. Notably, Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three liberal justices in dissent, highlighting the complexity of the issue.
Implications of the Ruling
This decision could impact over 40,000 people who have registered to vote in federal elections in Arizona without providing proof of citizenship. Many of these voters are believed to be students, service members, and Native Americans. The ruling keeps on hold provisions that would have prevented non-citizens from voting in presidential elections or by mail using a federal registration form.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes expressed concerns about potential voter confusion due to these changes occurring close to the election. The decision comes as Arizona prepares for its role as a key battleground state in the 2024 presidential election.
Political Reactions
The Republican National Committee praised the decision as a victory for election integrity. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated, “While Democrats have worked to undermine basic election safeguards and make it easier for non-citizens to vote, we have fought tooth and nail to preserve citizenship requirements, see the law enforced, and secure our elections.”
On the other side, the Biden administration and voting rights groups have challenged these provisions, arguing that they violate the National Voter Registration Act, which does not require documentary proof of citizenship. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar warned that judicial intervention could disenfranchise thousands of voters who have already registered.
Historical Context
Arizona’s 2022 law was a response to a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that invalidated a previous proof-of-citizenship requirement. This led to a tiered registration process where Arizona enforced proof of citizenship for state elections but not federal elections. The current ruling partially addresses this discrepancy but leaves some questions unanswered.
As the 2024 election approaches, this decision will likely continue to be a topic of debate, with both sides arguing about the balance between election integrity and voter access. The full implications of this ruling on Arizona’s voting landscape remain to be seen.
Sources:
- Supreme Court partly grants GOP request to enforce Arizona’s proof-of-citizenship voting law
- SCOTUS: Arizona may require proof of citizenship on state voter forms, at least for now
- Supreme Court partially revives Arizona voter proof-of-citizenship requirement
- SCOTUS gives partial victory to GOP trying to enforce proof of citizenship to vote in Arizona
- US Supreme Court partly revives Arizona’s proof of citizenship voter law
- Supreme Court grants partial victory to RNC on Arizona voter registration fight
- Supreme Court blocks some of Arizona proof-of-citizenship requirements for November election
