A Shawnee County District judge dealt a blow to Secretary of State Kris Kobach on Friday, permanently blocking the state’s dual voter registration system days before the election.

Judge Larry Hendricks had already halted the set-up temporarily, but Friday’s order extends beyond Tuesday’s election to future contests.

The order permanently allows 17,500 people who had registered at Division of Motor Vehicle offices but hadn’t provided documents proving their citizenship to vote in the August primary. Federal court orders had previously granted these individuals the ability to vote in federal races, but they are now also guaranteed the ability to vote in state and local offices on a permanent basis.

The challenge had been brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, and the organization hailed the ruling.

"This ruling is a victory for Kansas voters and a stinging rebuke of Secretary Kobach’s repeated efforts to improperly use his authority to obstruct their access to the ballot," ACLU attorney Sophia Lakin, said. "This decision recognizes that Kansans’ right to vote in state and local elections should be honored, no matter what registration form they used."

Desiree Taliaferro, spokeswoman for Kobach, said the secretary was reading the ruling. Kobach later told The Wichita Eagle he plans to appeal.

Hendricks held oral arguments in September. The ACLU represented an elderly couple who registered to vote but hadn’t shown documentary proof of citizenship under state law, though they signed a sworn statement asserting they are citizens.

Kobach raised the issue of standing, saying the couple hadn’t proven their citizenship for the purpose of the lawsuit — and arguing that they therefore couldn’t sue. Hendricks agreed the couple would have to provide additional evidence to the court.

But in his permanent injunction order, Hendricks wrote that as of Thursday, Kobach hadn’t provided the court with additional information. Hendricks also found Kobach’s arguments about voter fraud unpersuasive.

"Even when weighed against the 25 Sedgwick County individuals identified by the Defendant who attempted to register to vote over a period of 13 years, the denial of more than 18,000 individuals’ right to vote far eclipses the Defendant’s demonstrated — and undeniable — interest in a secure election," Hendricks said.

Hendricks wrote that Kobach lacks the authority to create a two-tiered voter registration system. Kobach has an interest in preventing illegitimate votes, Hendricks acknowledged, but he lacks the power to create new law to do so.

"Finally, the Court find that an injunction is, overwhelmingly, in the public interest," Hendricks wrote.