RNC asks Supreme Court to keep Arizona citizenship check for voters – Washington Examiner
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has petitioned the Supreme Court to reinstate an Arizona law that mandates the verification of citizenship for voters who register using a state-issued form. The request was directed to Justice Elena Kagan, who oversees Arizona matters, and is significant in the context of the upcoming 2024 presidential elections. Currently, the law is not in effect; if implemented, it would require individuals registering without proof of citizenship to have their initial votes rejected. A federal district court had previously ruled against this law, citing it as a violation of a settlement reached in 2018 with immigration advocates. The ruling also allows for those who register using a federal form to bypass the citizenship verification. RNC Chairman Michael Watley emphasized that proving citizenship is essential for maintaining the integrity of elections, particularly in a pivotal election year.
RNC asks Supreme Court to keep Arizona citizenship check for voters
The Republican National Committee asked the Supreme Court on Friday to bring back an Arizona law requiring officials to verify citizenship for people who register to vote using a state-issued form.
The petition in the 2024 presidential election swing state was directed to Justice Elena Kagan, who oversees matters from Arizona. Although the law is not in effect, it requires anyone who is registered via a state form and does not show proof of citizenship before casting an initial ballot to have their vote rejected.
A federal district court judge previously ruled the 2022 citizenship verification law violated a 2018 settlement Arizona reached with immigration advocates. Those who register using a federal form do not need to show proof of citizenship.
“Requiring proof of citizenship is common sense and fundamental to preserving the integrity of our elections – especially in our country’s most important presidential election,” RNC Chairman Michael Watley said in a press release.
Both the RNC and the Arizona Republican Party are asking the Supreme Court for a stay on lower court decisions that invalidated the law by Aug. 22 because “counties need to print ballots well in advance of the election,” according to the petition, which cited the secretary of state’s deadline.
The petition comes as recent polls have indicated Vice President Kamala Harris sports a small lead over former President Donald Trump for the upcoming presidential race. Trump narrowly lost the 2020 election in the state, which in part fueled his frustrations and claims about “voter fraud” following his national defeat to President Joe Biden.
The Supreme Court requested a response from a coalition of Latino voters who challenged the law by Aug. 16.
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