Politics
Federal judge blocks Ohio law requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced an immediate appeal after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against the state law.
The short version
- U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. issued a preliminary injunction blocking an Ohio law that required individuals to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote.
- The ruling allows Ohio voter registrants to enroll without providing additional documents such as passports, birth certificates, or naturalization papers.
- Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that the state will immediately appeal the federal court's decision.
Key facts
- U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. granted a preliminary injunction staying Ohio House Bill 54's requirement for voter registration applicants to provide documentary proof of citizenship.[Fox News]
- Judge Oliver concluded that requiring extra documentary proof conflicts with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, ruling that signed attestations are sufficient under Ohio's registration scheme.[Fox News]
- The lawsuit, Red Wine & Blue v. the Ohio Secretary of State, challenged whether the state-level registration requirements conflicted with federal law.[Fox News]
- Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose stated that his office will file an immediate appeal, arguing that signed attestations alone are insufficient to prevent non-citizens from registering.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The outcome of Ohio's planned appeal to the higher federal courts remains pending.[Fox News]