Things You Should Know About the Supreme Court and Voter ID

[Valin]

The Foundry:

Amy Payne

June 18, 2013

 

Yesterday, the Supreme Court handed down one of its first major decisions of this term, striking down Arizonas measure requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. Media reports are already off base in interpreting this decision, says Heritage legal expert Hans von Spakovsky. Here are three things to know about the decision.

 

1. This is not a voter ID decision.

This decision has to do with voter registration, not the act of voting. Von Spakovsky explains:

(Snip)

 

2. Federal law already mandates that a person must be a U.S. citizen to vote.

The Courts ruling does not mean that requiring proof of citizenship is bad or wrong. In fact, people are supposed to vote only if they are citizens.

(Snip)

 

3. States do determine the qualifications of their voters.

If Arizona has information about a voter that shows he or she is not eligible to vote, then the state still decides who is a legitimate voter.

(Snip)

[Draggingtree]

Oklahoma voter registration law survives U.S. Supreme Court decision

 

Oklahoma requires those registering to vote to swear under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens but doesn't demand documents proving citizenship, as Arizona did.

 

By Chris Casteel Published: June 17, 2013

 

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court decision to strike down a voter registration law in Arizona will not affect the process in Oklahoma, which requires registrants to attest to U.S. citizenship but not provide documents proving their status.

 

In a 7-2 decision Monday, the high court ruled that Arizona could not add requirements for voting in federal elections — that is, for president and members of Congress — beyond what a federal form requires.

 

Arizona required concrete proof of citizenship, but that requirement was struck down. Kansas, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee have similar requirements.

 

Congress approved the National Voter Registration Act, also known as the “motor voter” law, in 1993 to encourage voter registration through a simplified process. The act requires states to accept and use a form developed the Election Assistance Commission. http://newsok.com/oklahoma-voter-registration-law-survives-u.s.-supreme-court-decision/article/3853574

[Draggingtree]

Cruz offers voting amendment after Supreme Court nixes Arizona law

By Daniel Strauss - 06/17/13 08:25 PM ET

 

The Supreme Court’s decision Monday to overturn an Arizona law requiring people to prove their U.S. citizenship before taking part in the federal “motor voter” registration program immediately reverberated in the Senate’s debate on immigration reform

 

The 7-2 ruling written by Justice Antonin Scalia prompted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to announce an amendment to the Senate bill that would permit states to require people to prove their citizenship before registering to vote.

 

“This hole in federal statutory law allows non-citizens to register and thereby encourages voter fraud,” Cruz wrote on his Facebook page. “I will file a commonsense amendment to the immigration bill

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/306101-cruz-offers-voting-amendment-after-supremes-nix-arizona-law