Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/12pdf/12-71_7l48.pdf
Page Number: 26.0

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ARIZONA v. INTER TRIBAL COUNCIL OF ARIZ. INC. 

THOMAS, J., dissenting 

determines  is  necessary  to  ensure  that  voters  meet  the 
qualifications  it  has  the  constitutional  authority  to  estab-
lish.  Under  this  interpretation,  Arizona  did  “accept 
and  use”  the  federal  form.  Accordingly,  there  is  no  con-
flict  between  Ariz.  Rev.  Stat.  Ann.  §16–166(F)  (West
Cum.  Supp.  2012)  and  §1973gg–4(a)(1)  and,  thus,  no
pre-emption. 

I 
In  2002,  Congress  created  the  Election  Assistance
Commission  (EAC),  42  U. S. C.  §15321  et seq.,  and  gave
it  the  ongoing  responsibility  of  “develop[ing]  a  mail  voter 
registration  application  form  for  elections  for  Federal
office”  “in  consultation  with  the  chief  election  officers  of 
the  States.”  §1973gg–7(a)(2).    Under  the  NVRA,  “[e]ach 
State  shall  accept  and  use  the  mail  voter  registration 
application form” the EAC develops.  §1973gg–4(a)(1).  The
NVRA  also  states  in  a  subsequent  provision  that  “[i]n
addition  to  accepting  and  using  the  form  described  in 
paragraph  (1),  a  State  may  develop  and  use  a  mail  voter 
registration form . . . for the registration of voters in elec-
tions  for  Federal  office”  so  long  as  it  satisfies  the  same
criteria as the federal form.  §1973gg–4(a)(2).

Section 1973gg–7(b) enumerates the criteria for the fed-
eral form.  The form “may require only such identifying in- 
formation  . . .  and  other  information  . . .  as  is  necessary 
to  enable  the  appropriate  State  election  official  to  assess 
the  eligibility  of  the  applicant.”  §1973gg–7(b)(1).  The 
federal  form  must  also  “specif[y]  each  eligibility  require-
ment  (including  citizenship),”  “contai[n]  an  attestation 
that the applicant meets each such requirement,” and “re- 
quir[e]  the  signature  of  the  applicant,  under  penalty  of 
perjury.”  §§1973gg–7(b)(2)(A)–(C).  Insofar  as  citizenship 
is  concerned,  the  standard  federal  form  contains  the  bare 
statutory  requirements;  individuals  seeking  to  vote  need 
only attest that they are citizens and sign under penalty of