Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/12pdf/12-71_7l48.pdf
Page Number: 48.0

Cite as:  570 U. S. ____ (2013) 

7 

ALITO, J., dissenting 

intent  to  pre-empt  that  we  should  expect  to  find  when 
Congress  has  exercised  its  Elections  Clause  power  in  a 
way that is constitutionally questionable.  Indeed, even if 
neither  the  presumption  against  pre-emption  nor  the 
canon of constitutional avoidance applied, the better read-
ing  of  the  Act  would  be  that  Arizona  is  free  to  require 
those who use the federal form to supplement their appli-
cations with proof of citizenship. 

I agree with the Court that the phrase “accept and use,”
when  read  in  isolation,  is  ambiguous,  ante,  at  6–7,  but 
I  disagree  with  the  Court’s  conclusion  that  §1973gg–
4(a)(1)’s use of that phrase means that a State must treat
the federal form as a complete application and must either
grant  or  deny  registration  without  requiring  that  the  ap- 
plicant  supply  additional  information.    Instead,  I  would 
hold that a State “accept[s] and use[s]” the federal form so
long as it uses the form as a meaningful part of the regis-
tration process. 

The  Court  begins  its  analysis  of  §1973gg–4(a)(1)’s  con-
text  by  examining  unrelated  uses  of  the  word  “accept” 
elsewhere in the United States Code.  Ante, at 7–8.  But a 
better  place  to  start  is  to  ask  what  it  normally  means  to 
“accept and use” an application form.  When the phrase is
used  in  that  context,  it  is  clear  that  an  organization  can 
“accept and use” a form that it does not treat as a complete 
application.  For  example,  many  colleges  and  universities
accept  and  use  the  Common  Application  for  Undergradu-
ate  College  Admission  but  also  require  that  applicants
submit various additional forms or documents.  See Com-
mon Application, 2012–2013 College Deadlines, Fees, and
Requirements,  https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/
MemberRequirements.aspx  (all  Internet  materials  as 
visited  June  10,  2013,  and  available  in  Clerk  of  Court’s 
case  file).  Similarly,  the  Social  Security  Administration 
undoubtedly  “accepts  and  uses”  its  Social  Security  card
application form even though someone applying for a card