Anticipating a veto by Governor Katie Hobbs, Republican legislators are sending an election reform bill to the ballot for voters to decide instead. The Arizona Secure Elections Act, which amends the state constitution, will require proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote, require voter ID to cast a ballot in order to clean up fraud with mail-in voting, prohibit foreign money in elections and allow voters onsite tabulation of early ballots at the polling place on Election Day in order to speed up tabulation.
Sponsored by State Rep. Alex Kolodin (R-Scottsdale), an election attorney who is running for Arizona Attorney General, the ballot measure mirrors aspects of the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration. HCR 2001 passed primarily down party lines, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats opposing the bill.
“For years, Arizonans have watched the same election problems repeat while trust in the system has eroded,” Kolodin said in a press release from House Republicans. “The Arizona Secure Elections Act puts the rules where they belong: in the Constitution. Citizens vote. Voters show ID. Foreign money stays out. Voters can see their ballots counted where they vote. Election laws should be written by Arizonans, not dictated by bureaucrats, activists, or outside interests. The Legislature has done its job. Now the people of Arizona will decide.”
Arizona currently does not require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal races. When applicants register to vote, they merely need to check a box stating that they are U.S. citizens; they are not required to show proof of citizenship in order to vote in federal elections.
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