All 15 counties in Arizona have started verifying and removing noncitizens from their voter rolls, including close to 50,000 registrants who did not provide proof of U.S. citizenship. This process was initiated after a successful lawsuit filed by America First Legal (AFL) on behalf of EZAZ.org and a registered voter named Yvonne Cahill. The lawsuit argued that the counties were not following state law that required proof of citizenship to vote in local and state elections, as well as the monthly checks of the rolls for noncitizens. As a result of this lawsuit, the counties are now working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to verify the citizenship status of registered voters who failed to provide proof of citizenship.
In Arizona, residents are required to provide proof of citizenship to vote in state and local elections, despite a 2013 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting states from imposing additional voter registration requirements beyond affirming U.S. citizenship. The state law also mandates that county recorders conduct monthly checks to confirm the citizenship of “federal-only voters,” individuals who did not provide proof of U.S. citizenship and were not allowed to vote in state or local elections. Registrants confirmed to be citizens will be moved to the regular list, while noncitizens will have their registration canceled.
America First Legal argued in the lawsuit that county recorders were not utilizing available resources to verify citizenship status, as required by Arizona law. As a result, the counties have now sent requests to DHS to assist in clear the voter rolls of noncitizens. AFL congratulated the 15 county recorders for taking steps to ensure election integrity in the state. This process will help identify and remove any noncitizens on the voter rolls, while potentially allowing federal-only voters with confirmed citizenship to participate in state and local elections.
The settlement resulting from the lawsuit is seen as a positive outcome for all Arizonans as it ensures that the voter rolls are free from noncitizens. This agreement aligns with the state law that mandates proof of citizenship to vote in elections. By working with DHS to verify citizenship status, the counties are taking a crucial step towards improving election integrity in the state. The lawsuit brought attention to the failure of county recorders to follow the law and utilize resources to verify citizenship, prompting them to request assistance from DHS.
This initiative to verify and remove noncitizens from the voter rolls is a significant development in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of elections in Arizona. By requiring proof of citizenship for voting in state and local elections, the state is upholding its laws and regulations. The collaboration between the counties and DHS demonstrates a commitment to addressing any discrepancies in voter registration and maintaining the legitimacy of the electoral process. AFL’s lawsuit has played a pivotal role in prompting action to cleanse the voter rolls of noncitizens and uphold the rights of citizens to participate in elections with confidence.
