Justice Department’s Suit Is a Necessary Challenge to Arizona’s Discriminatory Voter ID Law

The U.S. Department of Justice announced this week that it is suing Arizona to challenge House Bill 2492, a state law requiring voters to show proof of citizenship in order to vote in presidential elections. In response to the announcement, Voto Latino President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar issued the following statement:

“When Arizona enacted House Bill 2492, it put in place a draconian proof-of-citizenship requirement that will disenfranchise thousands of voters all across the state. As usual, the burden of this requirement will fall heaviest on low-income communities and voters of color — communities that already face enormous hurdles to make their voices heard at the ballot box. Not only is this law discriminatory, it’s wholly unnecessary — there is no evidence whatsoever to support Republicans’ repeated falsehoods about voter fraud.”

“The Justice Department is right that House Bill 2492 disregards the Supreme Court’s own precedent on the issue and violates essential federal civil-rights legislation. It’s time for the courts to strike down this law so that all eligible voters have equal opportunities to exercise their fundamental constitutional rights.”

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Voto Latino is a grassroots political organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latinx community towards the full realization of its political power.