Arizona Counties Remove 50,000 Noncitizens from Voter Database

Arizona launches a monumental effort to clear its voter rolls of 50,000 noncitizens, following a legal settlement aimed at fortifying election security.

At a Glance

Arizona’s 15 counties join forces with DHS to remove 50,000 noncitizens from voter rolls.
Lawsuit by America First Legal prompted counties to address citizenship verification issues.
The settlement allows counties to access resources for maintaining accurate voter databases.
Efforts include empowering “federal-only” voters through citizenship verification.

Counties Commit to Election Integrity

Arizona’s counties embark on a rigorous operation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to delete 50,000 noncitizens from voter databases. This move resulted from a settlement with America First Legal (AFL), spurred by shortcomings in citizenship verification and inconsistent checks on noncitizen registrants. AFL filed the lawsuit on behalf of EZAZ.org and Yvonne Cahill, criticizing counties for violating state law by not demanding citizenship proof for voter registration.

The lawsuit’s dismissal led counties to collaborate with the DHS for establishing accurate citizenship verification. This cooperation became essential after a loophole enabled voter registration without citizenship proof, affecting rolls since 2004. AFL counsel James Rogers declared the settlement a “great result for all Arizonans,” emphasizing that the DHS partnership is pivotal for expunging illegal voters from rolls.

Maricopa County Takes Action

Maricopa County initiated direct communication with DHS, aiming to confirm voter citizenship, which aligned with Arizona law. Recorder Justin Heap expressed his dedication to cleanse voter rolls and ensure only citizens vote, as trust restoration is key for Maricopa County elections. Heap stated, “One citizen, one vote isn’t just a slogan; it is the right of every American citizen.”

Almost 50,000 “federal-only” registered voters haven’t provided proof of citizenship. Arizona lawmakers intend to rectify this by transferring certified citizens to regular voting lists while canceling noncitizen registrations. However, critics claim these actions could unnecessarily complicate voting for certain demographics. In response, the Republican-led House passed the SAVE Act, introducing new federal citizenship verification requirements.

OPEN BORDER: Why are Arizona Democrats fighting in federal court to be permitted to leave illegal aliens and non-citizens on voter rolls? Can there be any other reason than fraud?

Today, America First Legal filed an amended lawsuit against all 15 counties in Arizona—Apache,… pic.twitter.com/etDTvLsrvn

— @amuse (@amuse) September 6, 2024

Loophole Exposed, Action Taken

A decade-old loophole allowed 97,000 individuals to register without citizenship proof, calling for state-wide corrective measures, notably beginning in 2004. The Arizona Secretary of State’s office uncovered roughly 218,000 unverified citizenships on voter rolls, initiating a comprehensive list audit. Under the current statute, county recorders must perform monthly maintenance checks to ensure “federal-only” voters possess valid proof of citizenship.

“I promised the voters of Maricopa County that I would pursue every avenue to clean up our voter rolls.” – Justin Heap

This cleanup initiative paves the way for counties to enforce Arizona’s legal requirements, mandating proof of citizenship for state and local involvement. The settlement not only removes noncitizens but also aims to enfranchise federal-only voters who verify citizenship, reinforcing integrity and confidence in the election process.