The number of Arizona voters missing citizenship proof has significantly increased, according to recent reports. This rising figure emerged from the review of voter registrations in the state. The voter registration process in Arizona requires proof of U.S citizenship, a statute upheld by an appeal court ruling. Those who fail to provide this proof can still vote for federal offices but are barred from state and local elections.
The practice of checking for citizenship documents began in 2005, and at that time, the number of people on this separate ‘federal-only’ voters list was less than one percent of registered voters. However, the recent surge in numbers has resulted in approximately 31,500 voters currently in this category – almost double the previous count.
The reasons for the increase are still unclear. Some attribute it to the lack of knowledge about the requirement among new registrants, while others claim it could be the consequence of bureaucratic mistakes. Regardless of the cause, it has raised concerns among voting rights advocates, who warn that the requirement may disenfranchise eligible voters who may not have access to official citizenship documents.
The issue is now in legal limbo as a lawsuit challenging the proof of citizenship requirement is still pending. Until the court’s decision is rendered, the exact impact of this trend on the forthcoming Arizona elections remains to be seen.
