Citizenship Proof to Vote

Remember Proposition 200? The voter approved initiative in Arizona requires Arizonans to prove U.S. citizenship to register to vote and to show a photo ID at the polls. But according to election officials, thousands of legitimate voters will be prevented from casting ballots tomorrow. In Maricopa County (Phoenix), more than 10,000 people trying to register have been rejected for being unable to prove their citizenship. The recorder’s office admits that most probably are U.S. citizens whose married names differ from their birth certificates or who have lost documentation. In Pima County (Tucson), 60% of those who tried to register initially could not. The registrar says that all appeared to be U.S. citizens but many had moved to Arizona recently and could not access birth certificates or passports.

Advocates of the new law contend that it has been too easy to exercise the most important right of an American citizen. Dan Stein, president of F.A.I.R., charges “There’s been so much laxity introduced in the voting process by litigation and political cowardice. We’re hoping Proposition 200 will change this course.”

Fifteen states now require ID at polling places, but no other state requires documentation of citizenship in order to register.

Source: LA Times, Nov. 5, 2005
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