U.S., Ariz. in voting battle

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PHOENIX, June 8 (UPI) -- Arizona's attorney general says the Obama administration, by opposing a state voter registration law, is enabling illegal immigrants at the polls.

The U.S. Justice Department filed court papers Friday supporting a federal appeals court decision against the Arizona law, The Arizona Republic reported. A three-judge panel found that the National Voter Registration Act pre-empts a law passed by referendum in Arizona requiring all voters to show proof of citizenship.

The case is to be reheard by the full circuit.

"First, the Obama administration fails to do its job on the border. Then it sues Arizona to prevent us from helping to fight illegal immigration. Then it tries to create a false sense of complacency by arguing that the border is safe, when it isn't," Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne said in a statement. "Now it argues that persons should be able to register to vote without providing adequate information enabling verification of citizenship, thus enabling illegal aliens to register to vote. This is contrary to the interests of the people of the United States of America."