Published: 10.20.2009

Court urged to drop Ariz. proof of citizenship in mail voter registration
By Paul Davenport
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A lawyer for minority advocacy groups says a federal court should stop Arizona from requiring that people using a federal form to register to vote by mail also submit documents to prove citizenship.
Nina Perales of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund told a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel that another panel’s previous ruling misinterpreted a federal voting law that plainly pre-empts the state.
State Solicitor General Mary O’Grady argued that Arizona has leeway to establish processes to determine voters’ eligibility and that the judges hearing the current appeal should stick with the earlier ruling.
The lawyers presented arguments during a court session held Tuesday at the University of Arizona law college.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/314030