RNC, AZGOP Fight Non-Citizen Voting in Arizona

WASHINGTON -- In a landmark legal development for election integrity, the RNC successfully defended state laws that require Arizona counties to regularly conduct citizenship verification checks and remove non-citizens from the voter rolls. To ensure that counties are complying with these important list maintenance provisions, the RNC has asked each county in Arizona for information regarding their implementation.

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated: “The ruling requires election officials to enforce a critical Arizona law and ensure that non-citizens are not allowed to remain on voter rolls. The RNC and AZGOP will do everything we can to safeguard the fundamental principle that American elections are decided by American citizens.” 

Arizona GOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda stated: “Every voter in Arizona has a bedrock right to ensure their votes and their voices are not diluted by ineligible voters casting ballots and impacting our elections and our representation. We will pursue every legal action to guarantee a fair and transparent election and to enforce the rule of law.”

Additionally, the RNC and the Arizona Legislature have appealed the court’s decision on certain other aspects of the case and the AZGOP has moved to intervene on behalf of all Republican voters and candidates in the State of Arizona. The court ruled that Arizona cannot require registrants to submit documentary proof of citizenship in order to vote in presidential elections or to vote by mail. Fighting this ruling is a critical legal step to further secure Arizona’s elections and protect the integrity of the vote.

On May 17, The RNC and Arizona Legislature filed a motion to stay the court’s order, pending our appeal, that ruled Arizona cannot require proof of citizenship in mail voting and presidential elections. If successful, this means that Arizona would require documentary proof of citizenship ahead of this year’s election as we fight the issue on appeal. This is a consequential legal step to stopping non-citizen voting in Arizona.  

Background:

• In 2022, Arizona passed HB 2243, which, among other provisions, requires counties to conduct monthly citizenship verification checks of registered voters who have not submitted documentary proof of citizenship.
• In a lawsuit decided in February 2024, the RNC successfully defended most of the law’s list maintenance provisions which are meant to ensure non-citizens are identified and removed from voter rolls.
• The Arizona Republican Party moved to intervene in the case and defend Arizona’s right to require proof of citizenship to vote.
• However, the court’s decision enjoins Arizona from requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote in presidential elections or vote by mail. Our appeal will fight this decision. Not requiring proof of citizenship in order to vote in presidential elections or vote by mail undermines a fundamental principle of our elections: that they should be decided by American citizens.
• Following our win on the list maintenance provisions, we sent letters and public records requests to each county in Arizona requesting information as to how counties are implementing the law’s list maintenance requirements. 
• Only six counties have so far responded. Of these counties, none are in full compliance with HB 2243’s list maintenance provisions. Apparently, counties do not have access to some of the databases the statute requires them to check.
• It is inexcusable that the Secretary of State and the counties have not secured access to these databases, despite the law being in effect for nearly two years and never enjoined by a court.
• If counties do not show evidence of compliance with the law, the RNC and AZGOP will pursue every legal avenue to uphold election integrity in Arizona.