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Judge Eric Melgren Rejects Claim Against Kris Kobach's Right To Sue Over Voter Citizenship Law

A judge has rejected the claim against Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.

Voting rights organizations had claimed that Kobach has no legal authority to file a lawsuit to force the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to change the federal voter registration form.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren denied their request Thursday.

The court found that Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt had authorized Kobach to handle the litigation.

Kansas and Arizona have sued to force the election commission to require proof-of-citizenship documents from residents of their states who use the federal registration form.

Groups including Valley del Sol, Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, Common Cause, have challenged Kobach's authority to file the lawsuit, in attempt to get his suit dismissed.

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