The Department of Justice is suing over a recently passed Arizona law that requires proof of citizenship to vote in some federal elections.
The lawsuit was announced Tuesday and the DOJ is attempting to block legislation that was signed into law by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in March.
According to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, the law is a “textbook violation” of the National Registration Act, which requires that each state establish federal election voter registration procedures.
“For nearly three decades, the National Voter Registration Act has helped to move states in the right direction by eliminating unnecessary requirements that have historically made it harder for eligible voters to access the registration rolls,” she said.
“Arizona has passed a law that turns the clock back on progress by imposing unlawful and unnecessary requirements that would block eligible voters from the registration rolls for certain federal elections,” Clarke added.
She then said the Justice Department will continue to “protect all Americans’ right to vote”.
The goal of the law was to require applicants to prove their citizenship before they can vote in presidential elections or vote by mail in any federal election when they use the uniform federal registration.
The DOJ argued that the new law is ignoring a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that rejected a 2005 attempt in Arizona to require similar proof of citizenship for residents that want to vote in federal elections.
It also argued that the law violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964 “because it mandates election officials to reject voter registration forms that have minor errors,” reported the New York Post.
Clarke wrote last month to Attorney General Mark Brnovich, telling him of the plan to file a lawsuit against the state over the voting law.
“In addition to free rooms and transportation for those illegally entering our country, the DOJ now wants to give them a chance to vote,” Brnovich told Fox News Digital Tuesday. “It’s another round of Brnovich v. Biden. I will see you in court…again”.
