SCOTUS Largely Rejects GOP's Request To Reinstate Parts of Arizona Voter Suppression Law

By Matt Cohen

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected part of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Arizona Republicans request to reinstate parts of the state’s voter suppression law. Voters who were registered using the federal registration form will still be able to vote in the presidential election and by mail this November. However, the court granted their request to allow Arizona to reject state voter registration applications submitted without documentary proof of citizenship.

On Aug. 2, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the state’s strict proof of citizenship law, which required voters either provide proof of citizenship or residency in order to vote in presidential elections, or vote early by mail for any office. The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by pro-voting groups in March of 2022, that challenged provisions of Arizona’s voter suppression law, House Bill 2492.

The plaintiffs argued that the law violates the First and 14th Amendments by severely burdening the right to vote and possibly disenfranchising Arizona voters. With the Court’s ruling, individuals who registered to vote using the state’s registration form and did not provide documentary proof of citizenship will not be registered.

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