Thread: AG to defend proof of citizenship requirement for AZ voters

AG to defend proof of citizenship requirement for Ariz. voter registration

By Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services
Monday, June 20, 2011 12:00 pm

PASADENA, Calif. — The state’s top lawyer will attempt Tuesday to save a key provision from the state’s first voter-approved initiative aimed at illegal immigrants.

Arizona can impose a requirement to produce proof of citizenship to register to vote, Attorney General Tom Horne will argue. More to the point, Horne, who is arguing the case personally, contends the mandate does not run afoul of federal law.

But his interpretation of the federal law runs contrary to the majority ruling of a three-judge panel of the court last year which concluded what Arizona is doing is illegal. And one of the judges ruling against the state at that time was former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, sitting in for the hearing.

At the heart of Horne’s argument will be how to interpret the language of the federal law of what states must “accept and useâ€

In a ruling last year, the three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said nothing bars states from requiring those who show up at the polls to show identification. But the majority said a requirement to prove citizenship at the time of registration is not permitted under the National Voter Registration Act.

If that is accurate, then it needs to be changed. That is asinine. It makes no sense to have a law requiring citizenship to vote, but then we can't require any proof of it. Why don't we just let any and all foreigners vote in U.S. elections then. Anyone from anywhere in the world who can travel to the U.S. or just walk over our borders, can come vote in U.S. elections. In fact, maybe they don't even need to travel here, they can just send in absentee ballots.

I think this should happen in all 50 states.But you know they will just get false paper work for that too.KY.a drivers license is all we show so how many illegals have that alot.If not license all you need is a photo with your picture on it,thats easy enough to get also.

No kidding builditnow! What the hell is going on here? The status quo in the voting "laws" are not being upheld in the correct standards. In the way it stands, which is a joke, there is absolutely NO fairness to American voters. This is OUR Country and OUR Country to vote for who WE want to run things, NOT foreigners who can simply punch a voting card. This is just another example of political injustice! This Country needs to grow some ballz and step in up!!!!!!