Appeals Court Reinstates Ohio’s Law Requiring Proof of Citizenship When Registering to Vote

A federal appeals court has reinstated Ohio’s law mandating proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. This decision by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals blocks a lower court’s injunction that had previously halted the requirement. The appeals court argued that the advocacy groups challenging the law did not sufficiently demonstrate it would prevent people from registering to vote.

• A federal appeals court reinstated Ohio’s law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.
• The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a lower court’s injunction against the law.
• The law, part of Ohio House Bill 54, requires documentary proof of citizenship for those registering or updating their registration at the BMV.
• A lower court judge had initially blocked the law, citing violations of the National Voter Registration Act.
• The appeals court’s majority found that the plaintiffs failed to prove the law would likely deter voter registration.