In a 7-2 ruling, it was decided that the 2004 Arizona law requiring that voters have separate physical proof of citizenship went too far.

The decision was written by Justice Anthony Scalia, in it he said Federal law “forbids states to demand that an applicant submit additional information beyond that required by the federal form.” But, Scalia also said that the federal law does not “prevent states from denying registration based on any information in their possession establishing the applicant’s eligibility.”

The 1993 “Motor Voter” Act, it was decided, takes precedence over state law, that act requires states to accept and use the federal voter registration form that is mailed out postcard style to voters. That form is signed by the voter under the penalty of perjury.

Last year, Justice Anthony Kennedy blocked the Arizona law from being enforced as the Supreme Court decided on the case.

Civil rights activists viewed the decision as a win saying that the 2004 state law would add a burdensome extra layer of paperwork requirements to tens of thousands of voters. They saw the 2004 Arizona law as unnecessary voter suppression.

The are other states that have virtually the same state law on their books and joined Arizona in the Supreme Court case. Alabama, Kansas and Georgia require additional proof of citizenship fort their voters.