An appeals court reinstated an Ohio rule requiring people to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote at BMV offices, reversing a lower court's August injunction in a 2‑1 decision. Civil‑rights groups Red Wine & Blue and the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans argued the requirement conflicts with the National Voter Registration Act. A dissenting judge said plaintiffs identified individuals who could not register without documentary proof, and the ruling arrives ahead of competitive midterm races in Ohio.
6th Circuit Restores Ohio Proof‑of‑Citizenship Rule for Voter Registrations at BMV Offices
Court reinstates Ohio law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration
A federal appeals court on Wednesday restored an Ohio rule that requires people to show documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote at Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) offices, handing a legal victory to Republicans who have pushed for stricter voter‑registration requirements nationwide.
Court Ruling
A three‑judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, in a 2‑1 decision, reversed a lower court's August preliminary injunction that had temporarily blocked the requirement. The majority concluded that the advocacy groups bringing the lawsuit had not shown they were likely to prove the law would prevent eligible people from registering to vote.
Who Challenged the Law
Red Wine & Blue and the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans filed the suit seeking to block the requirement. They argued the Ohio rule conflicts with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which calls for 'the minimum amount of information necessary' to complete a voter registration form.
Neither group immediately responded to requests for comment on the appeals court's ruling.
Political Context
The order is a timely win for Republicans as they seek to defend control of Congress in the midterm elections. Democrats are targeting a competitive Senate seat and several House districts in Ohio, and voting‑access rules in battleground states can have important electoral effects.
Dissent
In dissent, Circuit Judge Kevin G. Ritz wrote that the plaintiffs had identified specific people who could not complete voter registration at a BMV location without providing documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate. 'Those individuals wanted to be afforded the opportunity to register to vote, without providing documentary proof of citizenship, when they applied for a driver's license at a BMV location,' he wrote. 'But they were not afforded that opportunity, because of the Ohio law at issue. That is enough.'
Judge Ritz said the two identified individuals had experienced harm even though they later found ways to register, and he warned that others could face similar obstacles in the future.
Next Steps
The decision reinstates the state rule for now; it could be subject to further appeal or additional legal challenges. For voters and election administrators in Ohio, the ruling clarifies that documentary proof of citizenship is required when registering at BMV offices under the reinstated state rule.
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