Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican, informed a federal judge that he has registered nearly 25,000 residents to vote even though they failed to provide proof of citizenship, the Kansas City Star reported Monday.
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ruled last month that the state law requiring proof of citizenship to register was unconstitutional, overturning Kansas law and making permanent an earlier injunction that had temporarily blocked its enforcement.
The state’s solicitor general, Toby Crouse, has already filed an appeal in place of Kobach, WIBW reported. Kobach is no longer directly fighting the decision after being found in contempt of court numerous times during this case. He has also been ordered to undergo more legal education before he can renew his law license for another year, CBS News reported.
Kobach, who has championed proof-of-citizenship laws, once headed up President Trump’s now-defunct voter fraud commission.
Despite this ruling, his office continues to collect and record documents that prove citizenship of those registering to vote. The plaintiffs who brought the suit against him argue that by continuing to accept these documents, he is confusing citizens who think the law is still in effect.
Kobach has stated that applicants may voluntarily present that information, which allows his office to perform an “important prosecutorial and criminal investigative function,”the Kansas City Star reported.
