In a big win for the GOP, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5 – 4 on Thursday, August 22 that the Republicans attempting to enforce proof of citizenship when voting in Arizona can enforce the Arizona law requiring such proof, HB 2492, and require proof of citizenship for all voters, including those who vote by mail.
As background, SCOTUS was asked to allow enforcement of Arizona law, which requires that documented proof of citizenship be provided when one attempts to cast a ballot, whether in person or by mail. The case had been filed by the Republican Party of Arizona. In a filing made on Aug. 15, an emergency application pending appeal from the U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit, it requested, Fox News Digital reports, SCOTUS rule “in support of HB 2492, our law requiring proof of citizenship to vote in presidential elections.”
SCOTUS, in its ruling, said, “The application for stay presented to Justice Kagan and by her referred to the Court is granted in part and denied in part. The district court’s May 2, 2024 judgment is stayed only to the extent it enjoins enforcement of Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 16-121.01(C) (2023) pending disposition of the appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and disposition of a petition for a writ of certiorari, if any such writ is timely sought. Should certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court. The application is denied as to Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 16-121.01(E) and 16-127(A).”
The order added which justices would fully grant the request from the Arizona Republican Party and which would fully deny it, noting, “Justice Thomas, Justice Alito, and Justice Gorsuch would grant the application in full,” and “Justice Sotomayor, Justice Kagan, Justice Barrett, and Justice Jackson would deny the application in full.”
The Arizona GOP, tweeting about the matter and describing the ruling as a huge victory, said, “🚨 BREAKING: SCOTUS Rules in Favor of Arizona Voter Registration Requirements This is a MONUMENTAL victory for Election Integrity! Today’s decision mandates that Arizona must reject state voter registration forms without proof of U.S. citizenship.”
Continuing, the party added that the SCOTUS ruling will help them ensure that only citizens vote in Arizona’s elections, saying, “This landmark ruling is a critical victory in our ongoing battle to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure that only eligible U.S. citizens can participate in them. Non-citizens will not be able to register using state forms.”
Additionally, the party said that the law is clear and this will help ensure that the clear law is followed, saying, “Arizona law is clear: if an applicant possesses an Arizona driver’s license number, they SHALL provide it. This allows county recorders to flag non-citizen licenses and ensure that every registrant is properly identified and eligible to vote.”
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Here is a video posted on X by the Arizona GOP describing how the ruling will impact voting in Arizona: