US Supreme Court Says Proof of Citizenship Unnecessary to Vote

[Captain Kawaii]

Just pinky swear you are a citizen and its cool...Just WOW!

The Supreme Court announced on Monday it has struck down an Arizona law that required voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship before registering to vote.

In Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council, seven justices agreed that the Arizona law oversteps the state's authority by essentially invalidating the federal voter registration form. The form, established by a 1993 law, lets people register to vote by sending in a uniform document accepted by all states. Voters must swear they are citizens on the form.

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[Dvae]

Its no surprise. Heres a news flash. You don't have to prove you are a US citizen to be President either.

[$5 submissions]

The basis for that ruling is the long-established principle that there are certain things ONLY the feds are empowered to do.

[Grapesoda]

Just pinky swear you are a citizen and its cool...Just WOW!

The Supreme Court announced on Monday it has struck down an Arizona law that required voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship before registering to vote.

In Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council, seven justices agreed that the Arizona law oversteps the state's authority by essentially invalidating the federal voter registration form. The form, established by a 1993 law, lets people register to vote by sending in a uniform document accepted by all states. Voters must swear they are citizens on the form.

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not only that the feds refused to let AZ defend it's border with mexico

[Relentless]

No, not really.

http://www.scotusblog.com/2013/06/op...e-hand-giveth/

[Mutt]

So anybody with an address of residence gets a voter registration form mailed to them and the only requirement to legally register to vote is to swear you are a US citizen, no proof whatsoever required other than your word. that's ridiculous but it appears that's the rules and any attempt to change them by a state will be for naught.

maybe i'm missing something - who receives the voter registration form and where does the government get the list of people from? people who are in the US on visas/green cards don't receive the forms?

being an Arizona case it's obviously a law passed to keep illegals from voting but that assumes that illegals are receiving voter registration forms - from where/who is my question?

[SuckOnThis]

I know when I'm in other countries I have a huge desire to go vote in their elections.

[dyna mo]

do we really want to make it tougher on people to get out and vote?

because that's what the sc ruling stops, az was trying to make it more difficult for peeps to vote by requiring proof of citizenship.

[Qbert]

So anybody with an address of residence gets a voter registration form mailed to them...

I've never had a voter registration form mailed to me. I've been asked at the DMV when changing address if I wanted a form, but I usually have to go pick one up at the post office.

[Captain Kawaii]

So anybody with an address of residence gets a voter registration form mailed to them and the only requirement to legally register to vote is to swear you are a US citizen, no proof whatsoever required other than your word. that's ridiculous but it appears that's the rules and any attempt to change them by a state will be for naught.

maybe i'm missing something - who receives the voter registration form and where does the government get the list of people from? people who are in the US on visas/green cards don't receive the forms?

being an Arizona case it's obviously a law passed to keep illegals from voting but that assumes that illegals are receiving voter registration forms - from where/who is my question?

You are correct. Anybody here, no matter their status can vote without problem. Activists groups (there are many many many) who are pro illegal immigrant will be sure to register millions of people who are not citizens so they can vote in their amigos to change the laws for their benefit.

You just have to pinky swear. I wonder how long this will last before US is bankrupt? I'm talking dustbowl oklahoma bankrupt.

I am soooooooooooo glad I am leaving with no plans to return.

[Captain Kawaii]

I know when I'm in other countries I have a huge desire to go vote in their elections.

You might if you were living in that country, working in that country, getting free medical, free welfare, free education for the kids and using some gringos ss card#

[Captain Kawaii]

No, not really.

http://www.scotusblog.com/2013/06/op...e-hand-giveth/

It was the kind of mixed decision that can sometimes baffle lay readers and, in this instance, maybe even lawyers and judges, too, because the two parts of the ruling did not seem to be reconciled easily.

Dude, come on. You know in US this equals to cluster fuck. - Millions will be voting who should not be voting. Fake addresses, fake names...either way this country is truly doomed.

[SuckOnThis]

You might if you were living in that country, working in that country, getting free medical, free welfare, free education for the kids and using some gringos ss card#

So if you're in another country illegally you would risk everything by voting? This sounds logical to you?

[$5 submissions]

do we really want to make it tougher on people to get out and vote?

because that's what the sc ruling stops, az was trying to make it more difficult for peeps to vote by requiring proof of citizenship.

AZ's position is very vulnerable ALSO to historical arguments. Remember, the South effectively disenfranchised blacks through poll taxes and poll intelligence tests and other means aimed at suppressing the black vote.

[Grapesoda]

I know when I'm in other countries I have a huge desire to go vote in their elections.

Asians were voting in orange county years ago... think about: Mexican political rounding up Mexicans to vote for shit for Mexicans in the US...

[Socks]

I think if you have something like a US issued driver's license you should be able to vote.

[Rochard]

Its no surprise. Heres a news flash. You don't have to prove you are a US citizen to be President either.

LOL. Really?

ROTFLSHMSFOAIDMT. (Rolling On The Floor Laughing So Hard My Sombrero Fell Off And I Droped My Taco.)

[PillWealth]

You don't need to be a US citizen to live here

[Vendzilla]

this why immigration reform will never really happen

[Captain Kawaii]

So if you're in another country illegally you would risk everything by voting? This sounds logical to you?

Not for me at all at logical... But lets say you are coming from Laos or Burma or China or next door in Mexico and you land into US. It might to you. Especially if the border is porous and you can probably get back in if booted.

A few weeks ago some guys were caught at the border. Border Patrol said first statements were, "Where do I go for the amnesty?" and "It's okay, Obama will let me stay."

It wont be affecting me. I wont be here. But I feel sorry for the citizens and legal immigrants of all colors, who will suffer because of what's coming.

[Captain Kawaii]

You don't need to be a US citizen to live here

But to be here legally you must be a citizen or on a Visa of some sort unless you are a tourist who is here within the time limits agreed upon by the US and your home country.

[Captain Kawaii]

this why immigration reform will never really happen

I believe you are right.

I was listening to a discussion the other week with big agra, an american worker and an illegal immigrant activist. You could have heard a pin drop when big agra let it slip that when the hundreds of thousands of people working here illegally in agra get status, they will most likely be fired and new waves of guest workers will be hired. That is one of the reasons GOP is pushing for high numbers on lower skills guest worker programs.

I believe in open borders to some extent but it must be fair to EVERYONE.

[kane]

All this ruling is saying is that in matters of election it is the federal government that makes the rules and states don't get to change how people register to vote.

If they want to force people to show ID when they register they need to get either the senators or congressmen from Arizona to sponsor a bill in the house or senate that would call for this ID rule to be put in place nationwide.

Personally, I'm not all that against forcing people prove citizenship when they register even though it will cost more money to do so. However, I'm not too worried about it because large scale voter fraud does not appear to be a problem. There was a story a while back that showed how during the Bush administration they did a heavy crackdown on illegal voting and after a 5-year effort they only arrested about 120 people.

[baddog]

I did not have to prove I was a citizen to vote

[baddog]

and pretty sure illegals are not going to start flocking to the polls now

[trevesty]

do we really want to make it tougher on people to get out and vote?

because that's what the sc ruling stops, az was trying to make it more difficult for peeps to vote by requiring proof of citizenship.

Word..

Conservatives/Republicans like gerrymandering and other things like this. The more people who vote, the more they lose. This is why Democrats spend tons of money on get out the vote campaigns while Republicans spend a lot of time gerrymandering & other silly crap.

[kane]

I did not have to prove I was a citizen to vote

I was able to register online and my state votes by mail so I just filled out the ballot and dropped it in the mail so I didn't have to even show up at the polls and tell them my name.

[baddog]

I was able to register online and my state votes by mail so I just filled out the ballot and dropped it in the mail so I didn't have to even show up at the polls and tell them my name.

Precisely; and the amount of voter fraud has been documented to be in the 10's.

[Mutt]

i find this insane - only a citizen should be allowed to vote and you should have to prove it, this is 2013, there should be a database of every eligible voter/citizen in the country, when a person shows up and proves he's a citizen and votes, mark them down as having voted.

what the hell, it's in the Constitution isn't it, guaranteeing every citizen the right to vote - it doesn't say 'resident'.

[fitzmulti]

what the hell, it's in the Constitution isn't it, guaranteeing every citizen the right to vote - it doesn't say 'resident'.

[baddog]

i find this insane - only a citizen should be allowed to vote and you should have to prove it, this is 2013, there should be a database of every eligible voter/citizen in the country, when a person shows up and proves he's a citizen and votes, mark them down as having voted.

what the hell, it's in the Constitution isn't it, guaranteeing every citizen the right to vote - it doesn't say 'resident'.

Mutt; illegal aliens are not showing up at the polling places; fuck, citizens are not showing up at the polling stations. It is a non-issue. You are right, only citizens can/should vote; but we should not have to jump through hoops to prove we are one. Not everyone has a passport, not everyone could find their birth certificate to save their life. Illegal aliens are not going to draw attention to them self by going to vote.

[kane]

Mutt; illegal aliens are not showing up at the polling places; fuck, citizens are not showing up at the polling stations. It is a non-issue. You are right, only citizens can/should vote; but we should not have to jump through hoops to prove we are one. Not everyone has a passport, not everyone could find their birth certificate to save their life. Illegal aliens are not going to draw attention to them self by going to vote.

Exactly. We don't need to be spending time, effort and money to fix a problem that doesn't exist.

If there was evidence that there was large scale voter fraud occurring, I would be all for tightening the rules, but it just isn't happening.

Like you said, we can't even get legal citizens to polls.

[Captain Kawaii]

An interesting letter in response to an editorial. Comments are interesting as well.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...?mod=yahoo_itp

[Captain Kawaii]

Exactly. We don't need to be spending time, effort and money to fix a problem that doesn't exist.

If there was evidence that there was large scale voter fraud occurring, I would be all for tightening the rules, but it just isn't happening.

Like you said, we can't even get legal citizens to polls.

I think the problem with getting legal citizens to the election ballot box is obviously people think their elected officials are ignoring the interests of common citizens and playing instead to special interests and corporations. There is no one to vote for if you oppose amnesty or so-called "immigration reform". The politicians who do have citizens and legal immigrants rights and interests in mind have no chance of winning.

This situation creates apathy.

[Captain Kawaii]

i find this insane - only a citizen should be allowed to vote and you should have to prove it, this is 2013, there should be a database of every eligible voter/citizen in the country, when a person shows up and proves he's a citizen and votes, mark them down as having voted.

what the hell, it's in the Constitution isn't it, guaranteeing every citizen the right to vote - it doesn't say 'resident'.

[Captain Kawaii]

I was able to register online and my state votes by mail so I just filled out the ballot and dropped it in the mail so I didn't have to even show up at the polls and tell them my name.

You used your SS number correct? When people vote that number makes the rounds of the IRS and other government agencies. I speak from experience.

[kane]

I think the problem with getting legal citizens to the election ballot box is obviously people think their elected officials are ignoring the interests of common citizens and playing instead to special interests and corporations. There is no one to vote for if you oppose amnesty or so-called "immigration reform". The politicians who do have citizens and legal immigrants rights and interests in mind have no chance of winning.

This situation creates apathy.

Immigration and immigration reform are just two small pieces of the apathy puzzle in this country. You said it when you said that people don't vote because they feel like their elected officials are ignoring the interests of the common citizen. That is very true. My brother has never voted because he says they are all the same and they will what they are going to do no matter what. There are others who just don't care one way or the other and there are tons of people who each have their own issues with our elected officials and those issues lead them not to vote.

We also have a large group of people who will simply vote for someone because of what party they are in or based on one issue. I remember seeing an interview with a couple in Ohio during the Obama/McCain election. The news person asked who they thought the better person for the job was and they said Obama. When asked if they were then going to vote for him they said no. They said they can never vote for any candidate who is pro-choice. So for them if there are two candidates, one is pro-life and the other pro-choice they will always vote for the pro-lifer even if they disagree with everything else on his/her platform.

One of the great things about this country is that every citizen gets to vote. One of the bad things about this country is that every citizen gets to vote.

[kane]

You used your SS number correct? When people vote that number makes the rounds of the IRS and other government agencies. I speak from experience.

No. There is no SS# on the registration form. I did have to put my driver's license number on the form. There is a spot that says if you don't have a valid driver's license or state ID you have to put in the last 4# of your SS#.

[GregE]

One of the great things about this country is that every citizen gets to vote. One of the bad things about this country is that every citizen gets to vote.

That pretty much sums it up.

[epitome]

The government has these awesome things called databases where they are able to verify your eligibility to vote upon registration.

I know this may come to a shock to many. They verify you through your registration and then you present valid ID showing you are you at the poll.

[epitome]

No. There is no SS# on the registration form. I did have to put my driver's license number on the form. There is a spot that says if you don't have a valid driver's license or state ID you have to put in the last 4# of your SS#.

Correct. That's all I had to provide. With the new ID laws they can tell your eligibility to vote via your DMV record as you declare your citizenship with supporting documentation when getting your license. People that aren't citizens will be flagged as such.

Gotta love people that make mountains out of mole hills.

[kane]

Correct. That's all I had to provide. With the new ID laws they can tell your eligibility to vote via your DMV record as you declare your citizenship with supporting documentation when getting your license. People that aren't citizens will be flagged as such.

Gotta love people that make mountains out of mole hills.

Exactly. I don't doubt that states like Arizona want to see tougher immigration laws, but they need to understand that there is only so much they can do at the state level and they need to switch their efforts to Washington.

[pimpmaster9000]

Just pinky swear you are a citizen and its cool...Just WOW!

The Supreme Court announced on Monday it has struck down an Arizona law that required voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship before registering to vote.

In Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council, seven justices agreed that the Arizona law oversteps the state's authority by essentially invalidating the federal voter registration form. The form, established by a 1993 law, lets people register to vote by sending in a uniform document accepted by all states. Voters must swear they are citizens on the form.

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it makes no difference you keep voting the same 2 corrupt parties in to power every year...

[blackmonsters]

Just pinky swear you are a citizen and its cool...Just WOW!

The Supreme Court announced on Monday it has struck down an Arizona law that required voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship before registering to vote.

In Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council, seven justices agreed that the Arizona law oversteps the state's authority by essentially invalidating the federal voter registration form. The form, established by a 1993 law, lets people register to vote by sending in a uniform document accepted by all states. Voters must swear they are citizens on the form.

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This is the evolution of policy. The supreme court only makes this ruling because of the
historic abuse of voting rights.

The major cases the court is looking at right now all boil down to a history of abuse and discrimination.

[Relentless]

It was the kind of mixed decision that can sometimes baffle lay readers and, in this instance, maybe even lawyers and judges, too, because the two parts of the ruling did not seem to be reconciled easily. Dude, come on. You know in US this equals to cluster fuck. - Millions will be voting who should not be voting. Fake addresses, fake names...either way this country is truly doomed.

Scalia wrote the majority opinion, that in itself tells you a lot. The ruling essentially boils down to the concept that a State can not enact voter laws in conflict with federal voting laws. A state CAN request to have things added, and if the federal government refuses or fails to answer, the state can then sue in court to claim what they want added is essential.

This sets up a mechanism where States can't act first and request permission after the fact, they must get permission before adding voter restrictions - from either Congress or the court system. It's a fairly simple resolution and not a particularly bad one. States come up with requests, congress must approve or deny them (and can't stall forever), then if a serious dispute arises the court system handles the conflict. Meanwhile, nobody except Congress can ever add any kind of restriction without getting permission before implementing it.

[helterskelter808]

I love the way people are earnestly discussing this as if voting actually mattered.

[tony286]

and pretty sure illegals are not going to start flocking to the polls now

Thank you , well said.

[baddog]

T
I know this may come to a shock to many. They verify you through your registration and then you present valid ID showing you are you at the poll.

That is pretty funny. Not once was I EVER asked to show my ID when voting. It is more along the lines of; "Name please" then they scan the pages until they find it, then, "is that you?" Followed by signing the line next to my name.

Never ever, ever have I been asked to prove who I am.

[bronco67]

This is unsettling news...but a great side effect will be less Republican voters. haha

[blackmonsters]

This is unsettling news...but a great side effect will be less Republican voters. haha

It's the same old old old old news!

Been like that forever. We only hear about this shit when blacks are winning elections.