A federal court has blocked Kansas and two other states from requiring voters to show proof of citizenship if they register using the federal form. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission approved a controversial rule in late January to allow Kansas, Georgia and Alabama to require proof of citizenship from voters who register using the federal form. The League of Women Voters brought a lawsuit against the rule, and the U.S. Circuit of Appeals for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction Friday by a 2-1 decision. Under the order, Kansas can no longer require people to show proof of citizenship when they register using the federal form and must allow anyone who registered after Jan. 29 to vote regardless of whether they provided proof of citizenship.
That will enable these voters to cast ballots in the upcoming presidential election unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes.
The decision, which reverses a lower court ruling, is the latest legal setback for Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who championed the proof of citizenship policy, which is being challenged in several lawsuits at both the state and federal level.
Kobach had argued against the injunction in court on the state’s behalf. He could not be reached by phone late Friday.
Full Article: Federal court blocks Kansas voting rule | The Wichita Eagle.