Kansans who registered to vote using a federal form without providing citizenship documentation will still not be able to vote in state elections despite the latest U.S. Supreme Court action.
The justices on Monday rejected an appeal from Republican officials in Kansas and Arizona who have sought to have federal elections officials enforce state laws requiring new voters to submit a birth certificate, passport or other papers documenting U.S. citizenship.
But Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says the state will continue its dual election system that limits people who register with the federal form to voting only in federal elections, unless they provide proof of citizenship.
He says Kansas will ask the new commissioners to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission consider changing the federal form to add the requirement.
Original story published June 29, 2015, at 9:47 a.m.
WASHINGTON--The Supreme Court will continue allowing residents of Arizona and Kansas to register to vote using a federal form without having to provide proof of citizenship.
The justices on Monday rejected an appeal from Republican officials in those two states who have sought to enforce laws requiring new voters to submit a birth certificate, passport or other papers documenting U.S. citizenship.
Supporters of the laws have said that they prevent noncitizens from voting, particularly those living in the U.S. illegally.
Critics have said incidents of noncitizens registering to vote are extremely rare, and that such Republican-backed laws hurt voter registration efforts and disenfranchise voters from certain groups that tend to vote Democrat, including minorities and college students.