Supreme Court rejects GOP push to block 41K Arizona voters

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday defeated a Republican effort that could have prevented more than 41,000 Arizona voters from casting ballots in the presidential election in the state that Democratic President Joe Biden won by fewer than 11,000 votes four years ago.

But in a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court gave permission to enforce rules that bar people from voting if they fail to provide proof of citizenship when they register.

The justices were acting on an emergency appeal filed by Republicans at the state and national levels, requesting full implementation of the voting measures announced in 2022 after Biden’s narrow victory over Republican Donald Trump in Arizona.

The legal battle will continue in lower courts.

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Billeaud reported from Phoenix.