US appeals court temporarily restores Ohio proof-of-citizenship rule for voter registration

A three-judge panel of the Cincinnati-based Sixth Circuit voted 2-1 late on September 23 to pause a preliminary injunction issued in August by Cleveland-based US District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. The result is that Ohio's 2025 documentary requirement is temporarily back in force while litigation continues.

The state law requires residents who apply for a driver's licence or other state identification and register to vote at the same time to present documents such as a birth certificate, passport or naturalisation certificate. It applies to the motor-vehicle registration process and does not mean every already-registered voter must now resubmit proof.

Oliver had found that a written attestation of US citizenship was sufficient for state election officials to assess eligibility and that the additional documentation requirement likely conflicted with the 1993 National Voter Registration Act. The challengers include the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans and Red Wine & Blue.

The appeals panel said the challengers likely lacked standing and that the lower-court order came too close to the election. This stay is not a final ruling on all merits of the dispute, and later court action could again change whether the law may be enforced.

Ohio's midterm election is November 3, with voter registration closing October 5, and the state has a competitive US Senate race. Supporters say documentary proof strengthens eligibility checks; opponents say noncitizen voting is rare and added paperwork can obstruct registration by eligible citizens.

Verification status: confirmed (Sixth Circuit action reported by Reuters; lower-court background cross-checked with the Associated Press). News value: B-level important news. Origin: United States. Primary section: Politics. Related region: World. Latest source time: September 24, 2026, 15:07 UTC. N Globe report time: September 25, 2026, 10:06 UTC.