A US federal judge has blocked an Ohio law requiring residents to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote at state motor vehicle offices.
The ruling comes ahead of the November 3 midterm elections and represents a setback for Ohio Republicans, who supported the stricter voter-registration requirement.
What Did the Ohio Law Require?
The law, signed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, required people registering to vote while applying for a driver's license or state identification to provide documents such as a birth certificate, US passport or naturalization certificate.
Republican officials argued that the requirement would help protect the integrity of voter rolls.
Why Was the Law Challenged?
Voting rights and advocacy groups, including the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans, challenged the law in federal court.
They argued that requiring additional citizenship documents created an unnecessary obstacle to voter registration and conflicted with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), a federal law designed in part to make voter registration easier when people apply for driver's licenses.
Judge Says Written Attestation Is Enough
US District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. issued a preliminary injunction blocking the requirement.
The judge ruled that requiring voters to attest in writing that they are US citizens is sufficient for Ohio election officials to determine their eligibility.
The plaintiffs welcomed the decision, saying eligible Ohio residents can now register at Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices without providing additional paperwork.
Republicans Defend the Requirement
Ohio election officials have defended the citizenship requirement, arguing that only US citizens should appear on voter rolls.
The ruling comes amid a broader national debate over voter-registration rules, with President Donald Trump and Republican allies pushing for stricter citizenship verification requirements.
Election-Year Significance
The decision could have added importance ahead of the November midterms, particularly because Ohio has a closely watched US Senate race that could influence control of the Senate.
The case is also part of a wider legal battle over how much authority states and the federal government should have in setting voter-registration requirements.
