I don’t know what is bigger news, the fact that the Supreme
Court of the United States voted in a 7-2 decision – aka not even close to a
5-4 split – that voters who register in Arizona don’t have to provide proof of
citizenship (‘cause that’s big news) or whether I can’t read a word of that
news in any Texas newspaper that I have logged on this morning.
This is pretty decent national news of local importance
because not only does it strike a blow against Republicans trying to suppress the
votes of naturalized US citizens – who tend to vote Democratic – but it also
puts the kibosh on local plans to pass likewise bills in Texas.
Big news, there is no doubt, but I had to read about it on MSNBC, not the Houston Chronicle,
and not the Austin American-Statesman.
The story behind that omission I will only speculate on.
But again, I bury the lead in a story only of local
interest.
Texas’ plans to suppress the vote through a similar bill
that amends the federal Motor Voter Law has just been thrown onto the trash
heap of history. According to the Brennan
Center for Justice website, Texas was one of eight states waiting in the
wings to see whether Arizona’s voter-approved Prop 200 would pass federal court
muster. Arizona’s law added a stipulation that voter registrants also need to show
actual proof of citizenship when registering. This requirement is over and
above the federal requirement that registrants need only check a box indicating
that they were citizens. At this time the states of Massachusetts,
Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia have
similar bills filed in their legislatures.
But not anymore I guess.
Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, two of the worst
Supreme Court justices in the history of The Court were the lone dissenters.
Stupid, but ballsy.
2 comments:
Though let's be honest here -- what this case does is forbid the state from asking if the individual registering is eligible to vote. Seems like a rather absurd notion.
That's the point, Anon, it is an absurd question. It's intent was not to get at the truth, but to discourage those who have to dredge up their citizenship papers in order to vote. Not to worry though, Anon. Senator Cruz has introduced a bill in the Senate to require this hoop jumping in federal law. Again, an absurd notion.
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