Feds Seek Stay of Order in Voter Citizenship Case

Federal election officials are asking a federal judge to stay his order that the agency help Kansas and Arizona enforce state laws requiring voters to prove their U.S. citizenship.

The court filing Monday comes after U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren ruled on March 19 that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission should immediately modify a national voter registration form.

The agency argues the case violates the fundamental right to register to vote.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said Tuesday that if the stay is granted, Kansas would implement a dual election system in which voters who registered using the federal form could vote only in federal races. He says it’s unlikely that the court would grant the stay.