Appeals court blocks proof-of-citizenship voting requirement

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Appeals court blocks proof-of-citizenship voting requirement

By SAM HANANEL
Associated Press
Sep 9, 11:07 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal appeals court on Friday blocked Kansas, Georgia and Alabama from requiring residents to prove they are U.S. citizens when registering to vote using a national form.

The 2-1 ruling is a victory for voting rights groups who said a U.S. election official illegally changed proof-of-citizenship requirements on the federal registration form at the behest of the three states.

People registering to vote in other states are only required to swear that that they are citizens, not show documentary proof.

The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia acted swiftly in the case, issuing a two-page, unsigned ruling just a day after hearing oral arguments. A federal judge in July had refused to block the requirement while the case is considered on the merits.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_VOTING_CITIZENSHIP_FEDERAL_FORM?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-09-09-23-07-50

[RandySF]

1. K&R

[Coyotl]

2. Republicans are taking a beating in court for their racist over-reaching. Next beating, the polls.

Next, they will have to answer to the voters for their suppression of democracy. And they will remain identified as the anti-democracy party for a long time to come.

[LonePirate]

3. This is good news. I'm sure a SCOTUS appeal is forthcoming, though.

[Stallion]

4. 4-4 Deadlock in SCOTUS

when a 3 judge panel rules-the losing party can ask that the decision be considered by entire Court of Appeals from that Circuit. If it survives this "en banc" appeal the SCOTUS will deadlock 4-4

[markpkessinger]

5. Yes, but if SCOTUS deadlocks, the current ruling stands n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

7. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

was finally filled up by Obama. Of the 11, where the chief justice happens to be Merrick Garland, there are 7 Democrats (appointed by Clinton and Obama) and 4 Republicans (appointed by GWB), so the en banc decision is pretty much obvious.... which is why Obama pushed so (along with Reid) to get that particular court filled.

As post #5 noted, if there is a 4-4 deadlock at the SCOTUS, the Appeals Court ruling stands.

[Stuart G]

6. k and r...very important..

[riversedge]

8. REC.

[Ligyron]

9. It would be interesting to know the name of the Federal Election Official

who allowed the Federal form to be changed in the first place.

As long as GOPer public officials are free to promulgate such obviously undemocratic attempts at voter suppression with absolutely no consequences, what have they got to lose? May as well try.

Even if they somehow lost their job over it some RW firm would give them another I'm sure since they were a "hero" for trying.

Hopefully these actions will cause the Repukes to be punished by the election results if nothing else.

[ananda]

10. Good!

Now enforce it!

[EV_Ares]

11. Kris Kobach’s new humiliating defeat a victory for Kansas voters

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has suffered another stinging, embarrassing loss in court. And that’s a victory for the rights of voters in the Sunflower State.

Kobach’s anti-voter efforts were slapped down Friday by a federal appeals court in the District of Columbia.

In a preliminary injunction, the court said Kansas, Georgia and Alabama couldn’t require residents to prove they are U.S. citizens when using a federal form to register to vote.

Earlier this year, the often-smug Kobach had assured people that the courts would uphold his attempt to make it harder to vote.

Rest of Article @ Link: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article101074792.html

[Lil Missy]

12. That's great! They can't win an election without cheating. n/t