Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Supreme Court Decision in Arizona v. ITCA Upholding the National Voter Registration Act

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WASHINGTON, DC – Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 7-2 ruling that the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) preempts an Arizona law that required citizens to provide documentary proof of citizenship in order to register by mail using the federal form:

“Today’s decision is a significant victory for U.S. citizens and their ability to register to vote without burdensome requirements. In our democracy, if you don’t vote, you don’t count, and the Arizona law was a blatant effort to keep some citizens from making their voice heard in our elections.

For 20 years, the National Voter Registration Act has expanded access to voter registration and to voting for citizens all across our country. We’re pleased that the Supreme Court ruled that the NVRA preempts Arizona’s misguided law, which in two years resulted in the rejection of more than 30,000 voter registration applications.

Unfortunately, it’s clear that there continue to be active efforts across the country to make it more difficult for many U.S. citizens to register and to vote. While we celebrate today’s victory, we must stand guard to ensure that all eligible voters’ rights are protected.”

Wade Henderson is president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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