GOP Leaders Call on DOJ for Assistance in Citizenship ID Voting Controversy

Arizona’s Republican legislative leaders are pushing for tighter voter registration laws, hoping recent changes in Washington will bolster their efforts. Aiming to prevent anyone without proof of citizenship from voting in upcoming presidential elections, House Speaker Steve Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen reached out to newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi for support.

The duo’s letter to Bondi requests the Department of Justice to align with their stance, which would mark a significant shift from the previous Biden administration’s position. Despite potential backing, the outcome of their case remains uncertain, as other parties involved argue that Arizona’s laws infringe on voting rights.

Central to this debate is a pioneering 2004 Arizona law mandating documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration. While courts have upheld this requirement for state and local elections, the contention lies in the extent of the state’s authority to govern federal elections.

The National Voter Registration Act is pivotal in this matter, stipulating that states must use federally approved registration forms for federal elections. In a landmark 2013 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court established that Arizona cannot impose additional requirements beyond the federal form.

In 2022, however, Arizona lawmakers reignited the debate. Senator Jake Hoffman conceded the limitations of the state’s power regarding congressional elections, as dictated by the U.S. Constitution. Nonetheless, he and fellow Republicans contend that the state maintains a role in determining eligibility for presidential elections, based on its authority to select presidential electors.

Last year’s Supreme Court decision permitted Arizona to require proof of citizenship for voters using its registration form, but it barred the state from enforcing such requirements for those employing the federally designed form. The ruling, however, is only applicable to the 2024 election, leaving the door open for the 9th Circuit Court to reconsider the broader requirement.

The push from Montenegro and Petersen relies on their assertion that the Biden administration aligned with left-wing groups to undermine voter’s rights protections. They emphasize the need for Bondi’s office to intervene against these challenges, arguing it threatens the state’s electoral integrity.

Despite unverified claims regarding non-citizen voting, the political implications are significant. A Republican National Committee filing highlights the demographic disparity among registered voters. While Republicans make up about 34% of registered voters in Arizona, only 14.3% of federal-only voters identify as Republicans.

Data indicates that Democrats account for 27.4%, with 53.6% classified as “not designated” by party affiliation. This comes on the heels of Trump’s narrow defeat to Joe Biden in the state during the 2020 election, raising questions about the motivations behind the push for stricter citizenship proof requirements.

Aaron Thacker, spokesman for Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, pointed out that many voters listed without proof may include students from state universities who opted to register federally without having their citizenship documentation on hand. This ability to register using the federal form presents an important option for young voters.