Longtime Arizona Voters Urged to Validate Citizenship with New Letters

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.

In Arizona, a significant number of longtime voters are receiving letters requiring them to prove their citizenship to remain eligible to vote. Approximately 200,000 residents, or 5% of the state’s voter roll, are affected due to a long-standing state error in tracking citizenship documentation.

The communication informs recipients that they must submit documents such as a birth certificate or passport to confirm their citizenship. Failure to comply results in a limitation to federal elections only, or even removal from voter rolls altogether. Many of these individuals have been registered voters for decades, prompting frustration and confusion.

Mindy Lively, 67, of Globe, is one of those affected. Having voted in state and local elections for over 40 years, she was taken aback by the letter she received last month. Initially suspecting political motives behind the request, she now finds the situation absurd. “It’s just crazy that they are making me do this,” Lively stated.

Michelle DeMarsh, a 63-year-old resident of Kingman, shares similar sentiments. After receiving the letter, she faces the challenge of retrieving her birth certificate from California to ensure her voting rights. “I’ll jump through the hoops, because I’m hell-bent to vote, but I don’t know,” she remarked, concerned about others in her age group who might struggle with the documentation process.

The confusion stems from Arizona’s proof of citizenship requirement enacted in 2004. Initially, only driver’s licenses issued after October 1996 count as valid proof. However, the state’s Motor Vehicle Division mistakenly categorized licenses issued prior to that date as having verified citizenship. Consequently, those voters previously believed they were eligible to vote without additional verification.

State officials recognized the error last summer but delayed action until after the presidential election. The decision to notify affected voters has unfolded slowly, with counties taking different approaches. Some have begun distributing letters, while others, like Maricopa County, opt to wait until after the upcoming local elections.

Voters who initially obtained their Arizona driver’s license before October 1996 and registered after 2004 are on the affected list. To check if they are impacted, residents can consult the state’s voter registration records. Current communications vary across counties, leading to increased confusion among residents.

If recipients of the letters fail to submit the necessary documentation, they risk being limited to voting solely on federal issues or facing removal from the voter rolls. While counties are expected to provide guidance, clarity on the situation depends on forthcoming legislative decisions.

Affected voters should take prompt action by arranging to present proof of citizenship to their county recorder’s office. Instructions, including acceptable documentation and contact information, are included in the letters issued.