LULAC Praises the Supreme Court for Rejecting the Arizona Proof of Citizenship Requirement

June 17, 2013

Contact: Paloma Zuleta, 202-833-6130, PZuleta (at) LULAC . org

Las Vegas, NV - Today, in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, No. 12-71, the Supreme Court held that the Arizona requirement for prospective voters to show proof of citizenship before using a registration form to vote in a federal election was unconstitutional. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 provides for voters to register by using a federal form produced under the Motor Voter registration law, where they must declare, under penalty of perjury, that they are a U.S. Citizen. LULAC was one of the plaintiffs in the suit from the trial court level, the 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals, and now with the Supreme Court decision.

The Arizona state law required prospective voters to provide documentation of their U.S. citizenship in order to use the registration form. In a 7-2 decision the court ruled that the Arizona state law, which required proof of citizenship, was an invalid requirement in that it was inconsistent with the controlling federal statute, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

“LULAC has worked hard to combat efforts that suppress a citizen’s right to vote – which is precisely what the Arizona law was designed to do,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “We are pleased with the Supreme Court decision today striking down such a restrictive law. We believe that the Supreme Court decision not only affects Arizona but other states which have tried or may try in the future to suppress voter participation through such abhorrent practices. These attempts are un-American to their core, in that our democracy is at its best when citizens practice their right to be heard.”

Although today’s decision was focused on Arizona it will impact states who have filed similar legislation. Currently, similar voter restriction requirements have been filed in Alabama, Georgia, Kansas and Tennessee.

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 900 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org