Arizona’s election laws were weakened by lawfare, leading to a significant increase in ballots cast without proof of citizenship
Arizona witnessed a surge in federal-only ballots after officials agreed to allow voters without proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections. This increase coincided with a significant influx of illegal immigrants into the country.
Lawsuit, Consent Decree Undermine Arizona’s Election Integrity
Twenty years ago, Arizona voters approved Proposition 200, also known as the “Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act.” This initiative aimed to ensure election integrity by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship and photo identification at polling places. However, leftists have continuously challenged Prop 200, opposing the state’s requirement of U.S. citizenship to vote.
The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013, where the justices ruled that states could not require documentary proof of citizenship on federal election registration forms. States were mandated to use the standardized federal voter registration form, which does not require proof of citizenship. However, the opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia allowed states to vet voters using their own registration forms.
In response, Arizona began accepting federal voter registration applications without citizenship documentation but continued to require proof of citizenship on state forms. This led to the creation of “Federal Only Voters,” who could vote in federal elections but not for state and local candidates.
In 2018, Arizona was forced to accept federal-only applications without proof of citizenship and grant federal-only registration to applicants using state forms but unable to provide proof of citizenship. This was a direct violation of the will of the majority of Arizona voters who supported Prop 200. The consent decree, signed by the then-Secretary of State Michele Reagan and Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes, further weakened election integrity.
According to Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, the removal of the proof of citizenship provision resulted in a significant increase in federal-only voters who relied on the federal honor system instead of providing actual proof of citizenship.
In the 2018 midterm elections, approximately 1,700 people in Arizona voted with federal-only ballots. Two years later, without the documentation safeguard, this number grew to 11,600 individuals. President Joe Biden won Arizona by a margin of just 10,457 votes, highlighting the potential impact of federal-only ballots.
Lawmakers Take Action
In 2022, the Republican-led legislature passed two election integrity bills to address the citizenship issue at the polls. House Bill 2492 requires county recorders to reject voter registration applications without documentary proof of citizenship and mandates proof of citizenship for presidential elections.
Election officials who accept forms without documentation can face felony charges and imprisonment. The bill also requires officials to check multiple databases to verify citizenship status and report any suspected crimes to the attorney general and county prosecutor.
House Bill 2243 focuses on maintaining accurate voter rolls and allows county recorders to cancel registrations if applicants fail to provide satisfactory evidence of U.S. citizenship within a specified time.
Despite these efforts, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes released an updated election manual that undermines the integrity laws. The manual allows voter registration applicants without proof of citizenship to vote in federal races, sparking criticism and potential litigation.
Legal Battles and Uncertainty
Several challenges claiming “voter suppression” were filed against the election integrity laws. The case is currently in limbo after U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton struck down key portions of the laws. However, legal observers anticipate an appeal that could ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club remains confident that the laws will withstand legal scrutiny and believes they are necessary to prevent non-citizens from voting in elections. Meanwhile, the Arizona GOP and other plaintiffs are prepared to protect the integrity of the state’s elections through litigation.
As the legal battle continues, the fate of Arizona’s election integrity laws hangs in the balance. However, many are hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately uphold these laws and ensure the integrity of the state’s elections.
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What potential impact could the implementation of these election integrity bills have on voter registration and election turnout in Arizona
Of citizenship would be subject to perjury charges.Senate Bill 1713 requires individuals to provide proof of citizenship when applying for a driver’s license or identification card, which would be used for voter registration purposes. These bills aim to strengthen election integrity and ensure that only eligible citizens are able to vote in Arizona elections.
However, these bills face opposition from Democrats and left-leaning organizations who argue that they will disenfranchise certain groups of voters. They claim that requiring proof of citizenship will disproportionately affect marginalized communities and discourage eligible voters from participating in the democratic process.
Proponents of the bills argue that they are necessary to protect the integrity of the election system. They emphasize that requiring proof of citizenship is a reasonable measure to ensure that only eligible individuals are able to vote and prevent potential voter fraud. They point to the surge in federal-only ballots as evidence that the current system is vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
It remains to be seen how these election integrity bills will be implemented and what impact they will have on voter registration and turnout in Arizona. The ongoing debate over the role of citizenship in the voting process highlights the importance of ensuring the fairness and integrity of elections while also promoting access and participation for all eligible citizens.
Conclusion
The surge in federal-only ballots in Arizona raises concerns about election integrity and the impact of allowing voters without proof of U.S. citizenship to participate in federal elections. The ongoing debate over the citizenship requirement highlights the tension between ensuring fair and secure elections and promoting access and participation for all eligible citizens.
The recent election integrity bills passed by the Arizona legislature aim to address these concerns by requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and enhancing the penalties for accepting forms without documentation. While these bills face opposition from those who fear disenfranchisement, proponents argue that they are essential for safeguarding the integrity of the election process.
The outcome of this debate will have significant implications for the future of elections in Arizona and potentially across the country. It is important to find a balance that ensures both the integrity of the election system and the inclusion and participation of all eligible citizens.
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