A federal judge in Arizona has upheld provisions of new state laws designed to verify the citizenship status of registered voters and prevent voter fraud. The laws require counties to confirm the eligibility of voters who have not provided proof of U.S. citizenship and to cross-check voter registration information with government databases.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton concluded that Arizona legislators did not discriminate when enacting the laws and that the state has a legitimate interest in safeguarding the integrity of elections by limiting voting to eligible individuals.
While upholding most provisions of the laws, Judge Bolton found that requiring individuals to disclose their state or country of birth on a registration form violated certain federal laws. She emphasized the importance of preventing non-citizens from voting while ensuring compliance with civil rights statutes.
The ruling followed a bench trial where experts testified about Arizona's history of voting discrimination, including past practices that disenfranchised minority voters. However, the judge noted that there was no evidence of intentional voter suppression in the recent legislative process.
The laws were passed in response to the 2020 election results and amid concerns about voter fraud. They were challenged by voting rights groups and the Department of Justice, who argued that the new rules could hinder voter registration.
Despite acknowledging that non-citizen voting is rare in Arizona, the judge upheld the laws as a measure to prevent ineligible individuals from registering or voting. The provisions aim to supplement existing requirements for documentary proof of citizenship that have been in place since 2005.
One of the measures examined by Judge Bolton would mandate state election officials to cross-check registration data with government databases to verify citizenship and report discrepancies to prosecutors.
While the laws may not significantly impact non-citizen voting, they are seen as a step towards enhancing election integrity and ensuring that only eligible individuals participate in the electoral process.
