U.S. Supreme Court denies Arizona stay on voter registration issue

June 28, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied Arizona’s request to temporarily block a lower court’s ruling affecting voter registration. That decision said federal laws supersede state laws. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Mark Brodie reports.

MARK BRODIE: In 2004, Arizona voters approved Prop 200, which, among other things, requires residents to prove they’re citizens when registering to vote, and to show ID when they go to the polls. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the voter ID provision, but ruled the federal voter registration form supersedes Arizona’s. The federal form does not require proof of citizenship. The state had asked for a stay of that ruling, arguing it would suffer “irreparable harm” if it were not granted, and that there was no evidence the additional requirement stopped people who are eligible to register to vote from doing so. In a statement, Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett called the court’s decision Thursday “disappointing,” and says "Arizonans clearly believe that people should provide proof of citizenship when they register to vote."