Thread: Common Cause joins court fight against Kansas law requiring proof of citizenship

Common Cause joins court fight against Kansas law requiring proof of citizenship to vote

Common Cause: 2011 law 'presents a unique threat to our democratic values'

Posted: August 3, 2016 - 1:16pm

By Robert Boczkiewicz
Special to The Capital-Journal

DENVER — A national advocacy group on the left of the political spectrum has joined a court fight against a Kansas law that requires proof of citizenship in order to register to vote.

The group, Common Cause, submitted arguments last week against Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s appeal to overturn a lower-court ruling against the law.

The 2011 law “presents a unique threat to our democratic values” and is preempted by a 1993 federal law, the National Voter Registration Act, Common Cause told judges of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Kobach has asked the Denver-based court to overturn a May 17 order issued by U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson prohibiting him from enforcing the state law in elections for federal offices.

Several advocacy groups on the other side of the spectrum submitted joint arguments several weeks ago in support of Kobach’s appeal. Those groups include the U.S. Border Control Foundation, Gun Owners of America, English First Foundation and the Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund. English First wants English to be the official language of the United States.

The groups on both sides submitted arguments as “friends of the court.”

Common Cause’s arguments contend that the Kansas law “contravenes the primary purpose — increasing the number of eligible citizens who register to vote —” of the federal law.

The immediate issue is on residents who submitted voter registration forms at Division of Motor Vehicle offices but didn’t provide proof of U.S. citizenship. About 17,000 voters currently are affected.

Kobach contends that proof of United States citizenship is needed to prevent non-citizens from voting. Groups on the other side of the issue contend that proof is an unnecessary obstacle that prevents eligible voters from voting.

http://cjonline.com/news/2016-08-03/...equiring-proof

The immediate issue is on residents who submitted voter registration forms at Division of Motor Vehicle offices but didn’t provide proof of U.S. citizenship. About 17,000 voters currently are affected.

That is a big number if they are illegals trying to vote. The entire election should be called if they vote.