Court upholds part of Arizona voter ID law

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 17 (UPI) -- A U.S. appeals court in San Francisco ruled Tuesday Arizona can require voters to show identification at the polls.

But the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the state cannot require proof of citizenship when a voter is submitting a federal registration form and at the polls, The Arizona Republic reported. However, the state can still require that proof when a voter submits a state registration form.

The court said the U.S. Constitution gave Congress the power to make or alter state laws regarding federal elections. The National Voter Registration Act establishes a standard federal registration form that all states must accept, requiring applicants to sign a statement that they are citizens. But the act it does not require them to show proof, the newspaper said.

In dissent, Judge Harry Pregerson said there is a long history of state-sanctioned discrimination against Hispanics, and the state voter ID law could be a continuation, Capitol Media Services reported.