Ariz. Requires Citizenship Proof to Vote
/Arizona has become the first
state to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote, a
measure that supporters say is intended to prevent voter fraud. The law
went into effect Tuesday after being approved by voters in November. It
requires that people provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth
certificate, when registering to vote and show specified forms of
identification when casting a ballot at a polling place. A civil-rights
group and Democratic legislators recently had urged the Department of
Justice to reject the law. They argued the changes will erect barriers
that will hinder minorities' participation in elections and hamper
grassroots voter registration drives. The Justice Department gave final
approval Tuesday. Arizona needs federal clearance of all election laws
and regulations because of the state's history of violations of
minorities' voting rights. [more]
