Arizona, Petitioners v. the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.

Summary

The Court held that Arizona's requirement that voter‑registration applicants provide documentary proof of citizenship is pre‑empted by the National Voter Registration Act's mandate that states "accept and use" the uniform federal form. The majority interpreted the statutory phrase using a plain‑meaning approach and concluded that Congress, acting under the Elections Clause, may displace conflicting state regulations. The judgment of the Ninth Circuit was affirmed. Justice Thomas and Justice Alito each filed dissenting opinions arguing that the statute should be read to allow states to retain their citizenship‑verification requirements.