Supreme Court Partially Upholds Arizona Voter Citizenship Law

On Thursday, August 22nd, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Arizona’s 2022 voter law requiring proof of citizenship for state elections, but it rejected the same requirement for federal elections. The 5-4 decision allows Arizona to demand proof of citizenship when voters register using state forms, while those registering with federal forms are exempt from this requirement. This ruling is the latest development in a long-standing battle over voting laws in Arizona, a key swing state.

Arizona’s two-track voting system emerged from ongoing disputes about citizenship verification. State law mandates that individuals registering to vote in state and local elections must provide documentary proof of citizenship. However, federal election registration forms only require a signed statement, under penalty of perjury, that the registrant is a U.S. citizen. The 2022 Arizona law, passed by a Republican-led state legislature, sought to apply the stricter state requirement to federal elections as well. This provision was struck down by the Supreme Court.

The court’s decision has significant implications for the upcoming elections, where Arizona is expected to play a pivotal role. Had the law been fully upheld, over 41,000 voters registered with federal forms might have been barred from voting in the November elections. These voters, who do not have documented proof of citizenship, will still be eligible to vote in federal elections.

The decision was split among the justices, with the conservative majority partially supporting the law. Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch favored upholding the law in full, while Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Barrett, and Jackson opposed it entirely. The compromise was reached with the votes of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

The ruling is seen as a victory for those advocating for stricter election integrity measures. Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee, praised the decision as a “major victory for election integrity,” asserting that U.S. elections should be decided by American citizens. However, the Biden administration, which had sued to block the law, and various advocacy groups argued that the law could disenfranchise eligible voters.

As Arizona prepares for a highly competitive election season, this ruling underscores the ongoing national debate over voting rights and election security.