House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and other top lawmakers are urging a federal appeals court to overturn a decision by a judge in Kansas that they say would limit the authority of Congress to regulate federal elections. The lawmakers contend the ruling could limit Congress’ ability to pass legislation protecting the right to vote.

Their recent friend-of-the-court filing last week at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals comes in the lawsuit filed by Kansas and Arizona.

The states want to force federal election officials to help them impose their proof-of-citizenship requirements on federal voter registration forms.

Both states argue the requirements prevent voter fraud by thwarting voting by noncitizens. Critics of such laws view them as suppressing voter turnout.