US judge blocks Ohio law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote

What the report says

A federal judge in Ohio has temporarily blocked a state law that required people registering to vote while applying for a driver’s license to show proof of US citizenship. According to Al Jazeera, US District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, finding the measure likely conflicts with the federal National Voter Registration Act because it asks for more documentation than is needed to assess eligibility.

The ruling centers on Ohio’s “motor-voter” process, which lets residents register through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when they apply for a license. Al Jazeera reported that the amended law, approved by the Republican-controlled legislature last year, was intended to respond to claims of noncitizen voting. The judge said election officials can rely on an applicant’s signed statement of citizenship rather than documentary proof, and that the state must provide the registration opportunity when the license application is submitted.

Voting rights group Red Wine & Blue challenged the law, arguing it could discourage eligible voters from registering. Its lawyer described the decision as a benefit for Ohio voters. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his office disagrees and plans to appeal.

The case matters because it reflects a broader national debate over voter registration rules, citizenship checks and access to the ballot. More generally, US federal law bars noncitizens from voting in federal elections, but states must still follow federal registration requirements when they set up voting procedures.