The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could significantly impact voter registration and roll cleanup procedures in Arizona and beyond. The court will decide whether Arizona's laws requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and allowing pre-election voter roll purges comply with federal law.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
The Supreme Court will review two Arizona laws passed in 2022: one requiring documentary proof of citizenship for state voter registration and another permitting the removal of noncitizens from voter rolls before elections. The case, Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, arises from a dispute over the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, which mandates reasonable efforts to remove ineligible voters but restricts purges in the 90 days before an election.
Deeper Dive & Context
Legal Background
The NVRA, also known as the Motor Voter law, simplifies voter registration at government agencies but requires states to maintain accurate voter rolls. A federal appeals court previously ruled that states cannot remove names from voter rolls in the 90 days before an election. The Supreme Court will now decide whether this restriction applies to noncitizen purges.
Arizona's Laws
Arizona's 2022 law requires voters registering with a state form to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport. Voters using the federal form, which only requires a citizenship attestation, can register as "federal-only" voters but are ineligible for state and local elections. As of July 2023, over 19,000 Arizonans were registered as federal-only voters without providing citizenship proof.
Political and Legal Reactions
The Republican National Committee (RNC) supports the laws, arguing they prevent noncitizen voting. The Democratic National Committee and civil rights groups, including Mi Familia Vota and Voto Latino, oppose them, claiming they violate federal law and disproportionately affect minority voters. The Biden administration has also opposed the laws, while the Trump administration previously supported similar measures.
Broader Implications
The case could set a national precedent for voter registration and roll maintenance. If the court upholds Arizona's laws, other states may adopt similar measures. Conversely, a ruling against Arizona could reinforce federal restrictions on voter roll purges and proof-of-citizenship requirements.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in its October term, with a decision likely by June 2027.