Supreme Court strikes down Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship to vote

[The Brain]

As long as Americans are happy to be ruled by foreigners then I don't see the problem.

[Valmy]

As long as Americans are happy to be ruled by foreigners then I don't see the problem.

Eh maybe they could do a better job?

[The Brain]

As long as Americans are happy to be ruled by foreigners then I don't see the problem.

Eh maybe they could do a better job?

Maybe they could drag American record-keeping screaming and kicking into the 20th century.

[Valmy]

As long as Americans are happy to be ruled by foreigners then I don't see the problem.

Eh maybe they could do a better job?

Maybe they could drag American record-keeping screaming and kicking into the 20th century.

That is not what the founders intended

[KRonn]

They're not saying such a requirement would be necessarily unconstitutional. They're just saying that federal law preempts the states from adding additional requirements. If federal law changed, that could change too.

That's my understanding also. And apparently some in Congress are moving to make changes to the law. You need to be a citizen to vote, so it shouldn't be an onerous burden to show citizenship, birth certificate, or what ever else qualifies, like maybe even a driver's license in most states.

Why make it harder for people to vote with ostensibly no gain?

US laws are that you need to be a citizen to vote. I think that's probably true in most countries. Yeah, it may take some effort for some to get a birth certificate or other proof, so I don't know what can be done about that.

I'd suggest doing nothing as why enact a cure when you don't have evidence that a problem is occurring?

I don't think the issue is about having problems or not, it's about doing it right and as the law states. What do other countries do for registering to vote? Is it so onerous that the US couldn't possibly abide by its own laws?

As for problems, even if minor, Arizona claims it has had problems which it's trying to address with it requiring proof of citizenship.

[Valmy]

I don't think the issue is about having problems or not, it's about doing it right and as the law states. What do other countries do for registering to vote? Is it so onerous that the US couldn't possibly abide by its own laws?

As I said it seems logical that step 1 would be making it less onerous so it could be easily enforced. 

[garbon]

I don't think the issue is about having problems or not, it's about doing it right and as the law states. What do other countries do for registering to vote? Is it so onerous that the US couldn't possibly abide by its own laws?

If there isn't an issue, why spend time and money creating a solution? 

As for problems, even if minor, Arizona claims it has had problems which it's trying to address with it requiring proof of citizenship.

Hmph, Arizona also claims that immigrants are demonic.

[Berkut]

The reason the law was struck down was that it was rather clear that the "problem" those in Arizona who passed the law want solved is the problem that people who tend to not vote for them vote too much.

While I can understand their concern with such things, I don't think the USSC should really take much account for such concerns.

if it was clearly not a political move to disenfranchise actual voters, then I am sure such laws would be passed and upheld without comment.

[Jacob]

I don't think the issue is about having problems or not, it's about doing it right and as the law states. What do other countries do for registering to vote? Is it so onerous that the US couldn't possibly abide by its own laws?

As for problems, even if minor, Arizona claims it has had problems which it's trying to address with it requiring proof of citizenship.

I believe Arizona's problem is that too many of the non-white and poor people vote for Democrats, so it's better to make it mor e difficult for them to cast their vote.

[Berkut]

They're not saying such a requirement would be necessarily unconstitutional. They're just saying that federal law preempts the states from adding additional requirements. If federal law changed, that could change too.

That's my understanding also. And apparently some in Congress are moving to make changes to the law. You need to be a citizen to vote, so it shouldn't be an onerous burden to show citizenship, birth certificate, or what ever else qualifies, like maybe even a driver's license in most states.

Why make it harder for people to vote with ostensibly no gain?

US laws are that you need to be a citizen to vote. I think that's probably true in most countries. Yeah, it may take some effort for some to get a birth certificate or other proof, so I don't know what can be done about that.

I'd suggest doing nothing as why enact a cure when you don't have evidence that a problem is occurring?

I don't think the issue is about having problems or not,

Really?

I mean....really?

You don't think the issue is about whether there is a problem or not?

Shouldn't that be the genesis of all calls to action - some problem that needs resolution?

it's about doing it right

If there is no problem then it is being done right already, pretty much by definition.

Right?

So glad we could agree, there isn't a problem, things are being done right, no new laws necessary.

and as the law states.

Which law is that? And what does it state?

What do other countries do for registering to vote?

So you think we should do what some other country does? Which ones? If I can find one that doesn't require everyone to show proof of citzenship to vote, will you agree that we don't then need a new law?

And is this about registering to vote, or actually voting?

Is it so onerous that the US couldn't possibly abide by its own laws?

That doesn't even make any sense.

[Admiral Yi]

   I imagine he's talking about the laws that determine who can vote Throbby.

[Berkut]

  I imagine he's talking about the laws that determine who can vote Throbby.

Can't be - he said something about the US cannot abide by its own laws.

We know that in fact the US does, by and large, abide by the laws governing who can vote, so clearly he must be talking about something else entirely.

[Admiral Yi]

How do we know that?

[Berkut]

How do we know that?

How do we know otherwise?

[Admiral Yi]

How do we know otherwise?

We don't.  Now please answer my question.