Supreme Court Allows Voter ID , Wickenburgnews.com.

Phoenix, Ariz. * Oct. 20, 2006. Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision to stay Arizona's voter identification rules. This ruling allows the state to continue implementing the voting rules contained in Proposition 200, which voters approved in 2004.

"This decision eliminates all confusion about what rules will be followed for the Nov. 7 general election," Goddard said.

Goddard filed a 30-page application last Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court to allow Arizona to follow the Prop. 200 voter identification and registration rules. The application was filed with Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is assigned to hear emergency petitions from the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court. Justice Kennedy reviewed the application and referred it to the full Supreme Court for consideration. In a six-page decision, the Supreme Court vacated the lower Court's ruling.

U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn Silver had ruled on Sept. 11 that Arizona could continue to implement the Prop. 200 voter rules. The rules were enjoined, however, by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court on Oct. 5.

"There has been no explanation given by the Court of Appeals showing the ruling and findings of the District Court to be incorrect," the Opinion stated. "In view of the impending election, the necessity for clear guidance to the State of Arizona, and our conclusion regarding the Court of Appeals' issuance of the order, we vacate the order of the Court of Appeals."

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