Ohio voter citizenship requirement blocked by federal judge

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the enforcement of an Ohio requirement that mandates voters provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote at motor vehicle bureaus. U.S. District Court Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. ruled that the provision likely conflicts with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), noting that the requirement asks for more than the “minimum amount of information necessary.”

The injunction suspends the documentation requirement ahead of the October 5 registration deadline for upcoming midterm elections. The rule, which was part of Ohio’s motor voter law, was challenged in a lawsuit filed by the Elias Law Group on behalf of the Ohio Alliance of Retired Americans and the group Red Wine & Blue.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose stated his intention to appeal the decision immediately. Ohio is one of several states, including South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, that implemented similar proof-of-citizenship requirements for this year's elections.