RNC Asks Supreme Court to Reinstate Arizona’s Citizenship Check Voting Laws

The laws in Arizona require individuals registering to vote to provide “satisfactory” proof of citizenship or residency to be eligible to vote. The Republican National Committee (RNC) has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate an Arizona law mandating voters to prove their U.S. citizenship for the upcoming presidential election. The RNC’s application for emergency relief, filed on Aug. 8, seeks to overturn a lower court ruling that halted the state law. The law in question, known as the “Voting Laws,” includes H.B. 2492 and H.B. 2243, passed by the Arizona Legislature in 2022. These laws require proof of citizenship or residency, such as a birth certificate, for voter registration. Additionally, the laws mandate the inclusion of state or country of birth, and require counties to conduct citizenship checks and remove non-citizens from voter rolls. Despite a district judge partially blocking the law in 2023, a panel of the Ninth Circuit later stayed the injunction. In July, another panel granted a request from Republicans to reinstate some provisions of the laws. However, the panel rejected the RNC’s plea to have election officials verify citizenship through additional databases. The RNC argues that the Ninth Circuit’s decision violates the Purcell principle, which prohibits federal courts from enjoining state election laws close to an election. The RNC asserts that the district court’s injunction undermines Arizona’s authority to determine voter qualifications. The RNC is seeking a ruling on the matter by Aug. 22. Voting rights groups have filed lawsuits against the laws, claiming they are discriminatory and unnecessary. Arizona law currently requires voters to be U.S. citizens, Arizona residents, and at least 18 years old to vote. The RNC emphasizes the importance of ensuring that only citizens vote in elections, especially by mail. If successful, the RNC’s efforts will allow Arizona to enforce proof of citizenship requirements for the presidential election. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stresses that proof of citizenship is crucial for preserving election integrity and preventing non-citizens from influencing American elections. The Epoch Times has reached out to relevant organizations for comment. (Note: the content has been paraphrased and condensed for WordPress integration while retaining key information and original HTML structure.) Please rewrite the sentence for me.

Source link