Kathmandu— A United States federal court has temporarily blocked an Ohio law that required residents to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote through the state's Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. granted a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, arguing the law likely violates the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by demanding more information than necessary for voter eligibility. The legal challenge was brought by voting rights advocates who claimed the measure would disenfranchise eligible voters and contravene federal regulations.

Legal Basis of the Ruling

Judge Oliver determined that signed attestation of citizenship is sufficient to verify a voter’s eligibility, rendering documentary proof unnecessary. He specifically cited a clause within the NVRA stating that driver's license applications should automatically serve as voter registration forms for federal elections unless explicitly declined by the applicant. The judge emphasized that Ohio must proactively offer voter registration alongside driver’s license applications, rather than waiting for BMV approval.

Legislative Background and Motivations

The contested law stemmed from a 1995 “motor-voter” law in Ohio, which allowed simultaneous voter registration during driver's license application. However, last year, the state’s Republican-controlled legislature amended this law amid unsubstantiated claims—fueled partly by former President Donald Trump—of noncitizen voting in state elections. U.S. law explicitly prohibits noncitizens from participating in federal elections. State Republicans framed the amendment as a measure to address these concerns.

Advocacy Group Response

Voting rights group Red Wine & Blue filed the lawsuit against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, alleging that the new requirements would disenfranchise eligible voters and violate the NVRA. Ben Stafford, an attorney with Elias Law Group representing the group, hailed the ruling as “a win for Ohio voters.” He stated that the decision ensures eligible citizens can register at the BMV without unnecessary documentation not mandated by federal law, particularly crucial with registration deadlines approaching.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has indicated his office disagrees with the court’s decision and intends to appeal the ruling.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.