Judge to decide proof-of-citizenship voting rule

[Tx4obama]

Feb 11, 9:09 PM EST

Judge to decide proof-of-citizenship voting rule

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- A decision on whether states have a constitutional right to require proof-of-citizenship documentation for their residents who register to vote using a national form is now in the hands of a federal judge in a case with broad implications for voting rights.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren listened to arguments from attorneys Tuesday, but did not immediately rule. He did not say when he would issue his written decision.

The lawsuit filed by Kansas and Arizona seeks to force the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to include the heightened requirements only for their residents. However, the Justice Department has argued that changing the requirements on the federal form for those two states would in essence affect nationwide policy, because it might encourage other states to seek increased proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

Both states require voters to provide a birth certificate, passport or other proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. Those who register using the federal form sign only a statement under oath that they are U.S. citizens.

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Full article here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_VOTER_CITIZENSHIP_LAWSUIT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-02-11-21-09-54

[Gothmog]

1. A two tier voting system is a horrible idea

The GOP is going to great lengths to steal elections

[Gothmog]

2. The ruling was stayed

Here is some good news. The ruling from the federal judge on the attempt by Kansas and Arizona to impose a two tier voting system was stayed. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/kansas-arizona-appeal-two-tiers

A federal appeals court breathed new life this week into the long-running fight over voter registration in Kansas and Arizona.

At stake is whether or not the U.S. Election Assistance Commission will have to add state-specific instructions about Kansas and Arizona's proof-of-citizenship requirements to the federal voter registration form. A federal district judge ruled in favor of the states in March, saying that the commission had unlawfully denied the states' requests. On Thursday, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a temporary stay to the lower judge's ruling, which was sought by the commission and a collection of voting rights groups.

According to the Associated Press, circuit Judges Carlos Lucero and Jerome Holmes granted the emergency stay one day after the lower judge, U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren, rejected a request to suspend his ruling pending the commission's appeal. The 10th circuit judges gave Kansas and Arizona until Tuesday to respond to the commission's request that the ruling be stayed during the appeal.

Arizona Advocacy Network, one of the voting rights groups involved in the case, hailed the ruling. Sam Wercinski, the group's executive director, put out a statement calling Thurday "a good day for Arizona voters and civic engagement groups helping citizens to register and vote."

This is great news. Hopefully, the appellant court will reverse this ruling.