Kobach has argued that the injunctions put administrative burdens on his agency, and on county election offices, and that they create confusion on Election Day over who is allowed to vote and who is not.
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Since 1993, states have had to allow people to register to vote when they apply for or renew their driver’s licenses. Kobach says it doesn’t make sense to hold people registering at motor vehicle offices to a different standard than those registering elsewhere.
Among other things, that law requires voter registration to be available at all driver’s license offices, and it only requires that voters attest, under penalty of perjury, that they are US citizens.
Her ruling restored the right to vote in the November 8 election for thousands of people who were asked if they wanted to register while at motor vehicle offices, but not required to submit the additional documentation.
State officials then asked the U.S. Supreme Court to maintain the voter identification requirement and 10 days of early voting for the November election.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who sued the state in July, argued that the Kansas law is in conflict with the National Voter Registration Act, a federal law that was enacted to “enhance voting opportunities for every American”, according to the Department of Justice.
Judges are set to hear arguments Tuesday over how the state enforces proof-of-citizenship requirements for voters who register at motor vehicle offices.
That was about 18,000 people at the time.
The officers’ reasoning would justify the search and seizure of citizens of half of the states in the country, the court said, adding it is “wholly improper” to assume someone is more likely to commit a crime because of his state of residence.
Lawsuits have been filed in several states to overturn strict voter ID laws.
Kobach lobbied for passage of the law in 2011, immediately after taking office, saying it is needed to prevent non-U.S. citizens from voting in Kansas elections.
“It’s an absurd result”.
Kobach says the requirement is an important tool to keep illegal immigrants and other unqualified people from voting. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ordered the state to register them for federal elections until the case, one of at least four the state is facing over its law, is decided at trial. Critics contend the requirement suppresses turnout. Both sides say the case ultimately could involve far more than 18,000 people. Arizona does not require additional citizenship papers from people registering at motor vehicle offices beyond what’s already required to get a driver’s license. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.
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