Judge Sets Hearing in Voter Citizenship Lawsuit

A judge has set an evidentiary hearing next month on requests by Kansas and Arizona for a court order forcing federal election officials to modify voter registration forms to require proof-of-citizenship documentation for their residents.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren on Wednesday scheduled a two-day hearing beginning Feb. 11 in federal court in Wichita.

The hearing comes after last week’s decision by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission denying the requests. The agency found heightened proof-of-citizenship rules hinder eligible citizens from voting in federal elections.

Kansas and Arizona require voters to provide a birth certificate, passport or other proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. People who register using the federal form only sign a statement under oath that they are U.S. citizens.