US judge blocks Ohio law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote
Also reported by The Hill
Summary
A federal judge in Ohio temporarily blocked a new law that required people to prove US citizenship when registering to vote while getting a driver’s license. The judge said the law likely breaks a federal rule because it asks for more proof than needed, and now Ohio must allow voter registration at the same time people apply for driver’s licenses.Key Facts
- Ohio passed a law requiring proof of US citizenship to register to vote when applying for a driver’s license.
- US District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr blocked the law with a preliminary injunction on Tuesday.
- The judge cited the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which only requires a signed statement confirming citizenship, not extra documents.
- Ohio must offer voter registration at the time of submitting a driver’s license application, not after license approval.
- The law was changed last year by Ohio’s Republican legislature, partly influenced by claims from President Donald Trump about noncitizens voting.
- Voting rights group Red Wine & Blue sued, saying the law kept eligible voters from registering.
- Ohio’s Secretary of State Frank LaRose disagrees with the ruling and plans to appeal.
- The ruling is seen as helping eligible Ohio voters register without extra, unnecessary paperwork.
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