A recently filed lawsuit accuses all 15 Arizona counties of failing to remove foreign nationals from voter rolls, as required by law. The case, brought by the Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona and local resident Yvonne Cahill, is being led by America First Legal (AFL) and former Arizona Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Wright.
The legal challenge claims that election officials across the state are neglecting their duty to verify citizenship and ensure that noncitizens are removed from voter lists. “This lawsuit seeks to restore public trust in our State’s electoral system,” reads the complaint, which was filed Tuesday.
This lawsuit is an expansion of a previous complaint that was initially filed against Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer. The plaintiffs allege that Richer, along with other county officials, has not done enough to enforce laws requiring the removal of noncitizens from voter rolls. Richer’s office, however, has publicly stated that they prioritize accuracy and compliance with the law.
At the heart of the dispute is the issue of “Federal-Only Voters.” Individuals who do not provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote are still allowed to vote in federal elections, thanks to a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. State law, however, mandates that voters provide proof of citizenship for state elections, a requirement recently upheld by the Court.
The plaintiffs are asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to ensure that election officials across the state perform their required voter list maintenance and remove any noncitizens from the rolls.
