PHOENIX, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Opponents of a controversial Arizona immigration ballot measure will be in court next Wednesday seeking to throw out the proposal on a technicality.
A lawsuit filed Friday in Phoenix contends the petitions used to get Proposition 200 on the November ballot were worded differently than the actual measure and seeks a court order to halt the tallying of the votes.
The Arizona Republic said Saturday the dispute centers around the word "welfare," which was on the petitions but not included in the official ballot measure wording.
Prop 200 would require anyone applying for public welfare benefits to show proof of citizenship, however leaving "welfare" out of the official language means that if passed; Prop 200 could also bar undocumented immigrants from virtually any public service including police protection and library privileges.
Supporters of the proposition called the lawsuit frivolous, but constitutional scholars told the Republic the alleged omission was a fundamental defect and violation of the Arizona constitution.
