FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 6, 2022
Voters Must Provide Proof of Citizenship in Order to Cast a Ballot
in Arizona's Elections
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Only legal, U.S. citizens should have the privilege of voting within the State of Arizona, and in an effort to preserve this sacred right, Senator Kelly Townsend sponsored SB 1013 (secretary of state; federal form). This bill continues her efforts in restoring election integrity and was just signed into law today by Governor Doug Ducey.
Current statute requires that in order to be eligible to vote in Arizona, a registrant must be a citizen of the United States. The United States Election Assistance Commission oversees the federal voter registration form, which does not currently contain Arizona's proof of citizenship instructions. SB 1013 will now require the Secretary of State to submit a request to the US EAC to include Arizona's state specific proof of citizenship instructions on the federal voter registration form by Dec. 31, 2022.
This bill came to fruition after the late United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia wrote an opinion on the overturning of Prop 200. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Arizona could not enforce the citizenship rule for federal-only voters. Federal-only voters avoid proving citizenship and instead affirm, under penalty of perjury, that they are citizens before registering.
As a remedy to this issue, Justice Scalia said, "A state may request that the EAC alter the federal form to include information the state deems necessary to determine eligibility." He further stated, "We are aware of nothing that prevents Arizona from renewing their request." He also shared that it would be arbitrary for the EAC to refuse to include Arizona's instruction, when it has already accepted the similar instructions requested by Louisiana.
"Justice Scalia has left a posthumous footprint on election security in Arizona, and I'm thankful his legacy can live on through this legislation," said Senator Townsend. "After dealing with this issue for a few years, it really comes down to the fact that Secretary of State Hobbs needs to request the EAC revisit Arizona's federal-only form issue. She has not done so, and I didn't expect her to, as she has proven time and time again that she won't carry out the duties of her office. It's unfortunate that we needed to enact a law to direct her to."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
Good job! Now, eliminate the drop boxes. People can drop their ballots off at any one of the many voting locations. They should have to drop it in a collection box in front of a witness. Also, get back to only absentee ballots should be able to be mailed in. This mail in voting for everyone is begging for fraud(as we have already seen) And no machines!
All U.S. SOS offices would be doing the job according to the will of the people by making this the standard of righteous government. Great work Arizona!!!
America, bless God by making your voices heard and stop voting for the same people who mean to hurt you and this great country!!!