Overview
- The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division filed a petition on Tuesday asking the Supreme Court to review lower-court rulings that blocked parts of Arizona’s laws requiring documentary proof of citizenship and creating a federal‑only registration class.
- In its petition the DOJ argues the NVRA does not bar states from canceling registrations for people who were never eligible because they are noncitizens and that states may require proof of citizenship on their own registration forms.
- A Ninth Circuit panel in February 2025 struck down portions of the Arizona statutes, holding they violated the NVRA and the Civil Rights Act by unlawfully restricting registration and voting access.
- Voting rights groups warn a favorable Supreme Court ruling for Arizona could let states run broad searches for noncitizens using federal systems like SAVE and purge names close to elections, risking mistaken removals and reduced time for voters to fix errors.
- The Supreme Court has not yet agreed to hear the case, at least four justices must vote to grant review, and a decision would set a national precedent on how states may verify citizenship and maintain voter rolls.