Ariz. Requires Citizenship Proof to Vote

Arizona has become the first state to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote, a measure that supporters say is intended to prevent voter fraud. The law went into effect Tuesday after being approved by voters in November. It requires that people provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, when registering to vote and show specified forms of identification when casting a ballot at a polling place. A civil-rights group and Democratic legislators recently had urged the Department of Justice to reject the law. They argued the changes will erect barriers that will hinder minorities' participation in elections and hamper grassroots voter registration drives. The Justice Department gave final approval Tuesday. Arizona needs federal clearance of all election laws and regulations because of the state's history of violations of minorities' voting rights. [more]