Disappointing Decision for Voters in AZ

by Jon Greenbaum

Today, the United States Supreme Court vacated the 9th Circuit's decision, preventing enforcement of Arizona's photo ID law.  Voters are now again required to present proof of identification when registering and photo ID when voting on November 7.

Read the decision by Justice Kennedy here.

We are extremely disappointed by this decision. Nonetheless, we note that the Court vacated the stay based solely on procedural grounds. Indeed, the Court made clear on page 4 of the opinion that the district court must carefully consider the degree of disfranchisement caused by the law: "Although the likely effect effects of Proposition 200 are much debated, the possibility that qualified voters might be turned away from the polls would caution any district any district judge to give careful consideration to the plaintiffs' challenges."  We hope and expect to prevail when there is a final decision on the merits.

The Lawyers' Committee, along with Osborn Maledon LLP, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, the ACLU, AARP, PFAWF, and Sparks, Tehan & Ryley PC, represent the set of plaintiffs who obtained the temporary relief from the 9th Circuit in the Arizona Proposition 200 case.