To: Bill who wrote (1470787 ) 7/19/2024 7:59:45 PM From: FJB 1 RecommendationRecommended By
Respond to Update on 9th Circuit Arizona ruling on voter registration and citizenship. - THIS IS INSANE. PHOENIX — Arizona won't be able to block those who sign up to vote using a federal registration form from casting a ballot in the presidential race, at least not now. In a brief order Thursday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a plea by Republican legislative leaders to delay a ruling by a trial judge that barring enforcement of such a ban. In the same order, the three-judge panel also said those using that federal form still can cast their ballots by mail. What the judges decided, however, is that anyone who tries to register to vote using a state form is required at the same time to provide documented proof of citizenship. More to the point, if they do not, the application must now be rejected. That overturns what had been occurring. Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer said the practice until now has been that registration requests using the state form that did not also have proof of citizenship automatically were put into the "federal only' category, as if the applicants had submitted a federal form. Richer said he and the other 14 county recorders will stop doing that. But Richer noted none of this disturbs the ability of those who use the federal form in the first place to be able to cast a ballot in the presidential race. House Speaker Ben Toma acknowledged the limited nature of the victory. "But it's still a win,' he told Capitol Media Services. None of this precludes Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen from pursuing an appeal of last year's order by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton about the ability of those using the federal form to cast a ballot in the presidential race. A hearing is being scheduled on that for September. And that means there still could be a decision before the Nov. 5 election.
