Arizona judge blocks crucial citizenship checks for 42,000 voters, raising concerns about election integrity.
At a Glance
- Judge rejects request to verify citizenship of 42,000 federal-only voters in Arizona
- Conservative group and Arizona voter initiated lawsuit to enforce 2022 voter verification law
- Ruling cites timing and lack of legal standing as reasons for rejection
- Plaintiffs plan to appeal, represented by America First Legal
- Concerns raised about potential non-citizen voting in upcoming elections
Judge Blocks Crucial Citizenship Checks
In a troubling decision for election integrity advocates, a federal judge in Arizona has rejected a request to verify the citizenship of 42,000 voters registered only for federal elections. The ruling, made by U.S. District Judge Krissa Lanham, a Biden nominee, deals a significant blow to efforts ensuring only eligible citizens participate in our democratic process. This decision comes at a critical time, with the November 5 election rapidly approaching and concerns about potential non-citizen voting at an all-time high.
The lawsuit, filed by an Arizona voter and the conservative group Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona, sought to enforce a 2022 law requiring cross-checking of voter registration with government databases. This commonsense measure aimed to prevent non-citizens from illegally participating in our elections, a concern that has grown increasingly pressing in recent years.
A judge has rejected a request to require Arizona’s 15 counties to verify the citizenship of some 42,000 voters registered only to vote in federal elections in the presidential battleground state. https://t.co/USQKJXYuDn
— FOX 10 Phoenix (@FOX10Phoenix) October 15, 2024
Biden-Appointed Judge’s Questionable Reasoning
Judge Lanham’s decision to reject the request for citizenship verification is particularly concerning given her status as a Biden appointee. Her ruling cited the proximity to the upcoming election and a purported lack of legal standing by the plaintiffs. This reasoning seems to prioritize administrative convenience over the fundamental integrity of our electoral process.
“They (the plaintiffs) have not made a clearcut showing of harm, nor that the action they request is feasible in the midst of a general election,” U.S. District Judge Krissa Lanham wrote in an order issued Friday.
This decision effectively allows potentially ineligible voters to participate in federal elections without proper verification, a situation that should alarm every American concerned about fair and honest elections. The judge’s reluctance to “divert county resources” for these crucial citizenship checks just weeks before the election raises questions about the priorities of our judicial system.
Conservative Groups Fight Back
Thankfully, the plaintiffs are not backing down. They plan to appeal the ruling, represented by America First Legal, an organization led by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller. This group understands the critical importance of ensuring only eligible citizens participate in our electoral process.
America First Legal, which is run by former Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller and represents the plaintiffs, said in a statement Tuesday that the appeal effort was made “to demand potential illegal aliens and noncitizens are lawfully removed from the Arizona voter rolls.”
The lawsuit rightly argued that county officials should ask federal authorities to verify citizenship, not just consult databases. This common-sense approach would provide an additional layer of security to ensure the integrity of our elections. However, Judge Lanham’s ruling has, for now, blocked this crucial safeguard.
The Bigger Picture: A Threat to Election Integrity
This case is not occurring in isolation. It’s part of a larger, troubling pattern in Arizona’s election system. A database error mistakenly allowed nearly 218,000 voters with pre-1996 driver licenses to vote in state and local elections, despite lacking proper citizenship verification. The state Supreme Court’s decision to allow these potentially ineligible voters to participate in the 2024 general election only compounds the problem.
These issues highlight the urgent need for robust voter verification processes. The reluctance of some officials and judges to implement these crucial checks raises serious questions about their commitment to ensuring fair and honest elections. As conservatives, we must remain vigilant and continue to fight for the integrity of our electoral system, even in the face of judicial setbacks like this one.