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June 17, 2013judicialvoter registrationNVRAcitizenship requirementselection accessjudicial

SCOTUS rules 7-2 in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council that NVRA bars state proof-of-citizenship

The Supreme Court rules 7-2 in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona that the NVRA preempts Arizona's requirement that voter registration applicants provide documentary proof of citizenship beyond what the federal voter registration form requires. Justice Antonin Scalia writes the majority opinion, holding that the NVRA's requirement that states "accept and use" the federal form means states cannot add additional documentary requirements. The decision limits states' ability to impose proof-of-citizenship requirements on federal voter registration forms.