Arizona officials have revealed a significant issue affecting nearly 100,000 registered voters who may be barred from casting ballots in the upcoming November elections. This problem stems from the potential lack of required U.S. citizenship proof during the voter registration process, as mandated by state law.
Discovery of the Registration Flaw
Last week, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer highlighted the flaw in a detailed X post on Tuesday. He stated, ‘In all likelihood, they almost all [are] U.S. Citizens. But they have NOT provided documented proof of citizenship.’ This oversight has existed for decades, complicating the voter eligibility landscape in Arizona.
Complex Legal Interplay
The issue arises from a tangled web of state and federal laws governing voter registration and Arizona driver’s licenses. Notably, Arizona permits prospective voters to register for federal elections using a federal form that doesn’t require documented citizenship proof. However, documentation is mandatory for those participating in state and local elections.
Driver’s License Requirements and Registration Implications
Since 1996, obtaining a standard Arizona driver’s license necessitates presenting proof of U.S. citizenship, whereas green-card holders receive an alternative license. This policy ensured that individuals registering to vote with a state driver’s license were presumed U.S. citizens, thereby qualifying them for all election types.
However, changes in 2004 by the Motor Vehicle Division introduced updated issue dates on replacement or renewal licenses. Consequently, around 97,000 voters who received a driver’s license before 1996 but later obtained a replacement after 2004 exploited this update to register to vote without providing the necessary citizenship documentation.
Legal and Political Ramifications
Richer elaborated, “All of these people have attested under penalty of law that they are U.S. citizens,” adding, “And, in all likelihood, they almost all [are] U.S. Citizens. But they have NOT provided documented proof of citizenship.” Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes noted that the affected voters are predominantly aged between 45 and 60 and lean Republican.
With the November election looming and military ballots imminent, Richer, a Republican, is pursuing a “friendly” lawsuit against Fontes, a Democrat. He aims for the state supreme court to swiftly address the issue.
“It is my position that these registrants have not satisfied Arizona’s documented proof of citizenship law, and therefore can only vote a ‘FED ONLY’ ballot [in 2024],” Richer asserted.
Conversely, Fontes contends that resolving the matter fairly within the limited timeframe is unfeasible, potentially disenfranchising lawful U.S. citizens from state and local elections. “We do not want to see this happen,” he remarked. “We are advocating for status quo.”
Heightened Legal Actions and Election Security Concerns
This revelation follows lawsuits filed against all 15 Arizona counties by America First Legal, an organization closely associated with former President Donald Trump. As previously reported by Blaze News, the September 4 lawsuit accuses the counties and their recorders of neglecting to remove foreign nationals from voter rolls, violating state law.
“We are taking emergency action to secure our elections,” declared former Trump adviser and current AFL President Stephen Miller in a statement to Blaze News. “… America First Legal will do everything in its power to fight mass illegal alien voting and foreign interference in our democracy.”
