Supreme Court to weigh Arizona voter citizenship proof rules, roll purges

Yuma County voters who register without documentary proof of citizenship could be limited to federal-only ballots covering president, U.S. senator and U.S. House if Arizona’s rules survive the latest Supreme Court review. The court agreed June 29 to take up Arizona’s proof-of-citizenship law and a separate challenge over whether the state can purge voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election.

Arizona already divides registrants into two categories. Voters who submit documentary proof of citizenship are treated as full-ballot voters, while registrants who attest to citizenship but do not provide the paperwork can be restricted to federal elections only. State election officials say a voter who later submits valid proof can move from federal-only status to full-ballot eligibility.

In Yuma County, the recorder’s office is already posting voter-registration materials, proof-of-citizenship information and monthly voter-registration updates. County election officials also flagged a records inconsistency tied to an interface error between the state voter-registration system and the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division.

The Arizona Secretary of State said the Supreme Court’s review will not affect the state’s 2026 elections, which remain governed by current rules.

In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down Arizona’s attempt to require proof of citizenship on the federal registration form. In 2024, the court allowed Arizona to enforce proof-of-citizenship requirements for some state-form registrants while leaving federal-form registrants able to vote in federal races.

The latest case grew out of laws enacted in 2022, during the post-2020 push by Republicans to tighten election rules. Mi Familia Vota sued, arguing the measures violate the National Voter Registration Act and burden eligible voters. The Republican National Committee says the laws are necessary to protect election integrity and keep noncitizens from voting.