Arizona Republicans have taken their fight for tighter voter registration rules to the nation’s highest court. The state GOP and Republican National Committee (RNC) are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to greenlight a 2022 state law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.
This move comes after a federal appeals court put parts of the Arizona law on ice. Now, Republicans want the Supreme Court to let the state demand evidence of U.S. citizenship from people using state forms to sign up as voters.
The law, if approved, would do more than just change state voter registrations. It would also impact mail-in voting and who can vote in presidential races. Right now, Arizona lets folks without citizenship proof vote in federal elections as “federal-only voters,” thanks to a 2013 Supreme Court ruling.
RNC Chair Michael Whatley says checking citizenship is just common sense for keeping elections honest. But groups like Mi Familia Vota say the law makes it too hard for people to register.
Republicans say blocking the law goes against the Purcell principle, which says courts shouldn’t change election rules close to voting day. They worry this could confuse voters.
With November’s elections on the horizon, time is tight. The GOP wants an answer by August 22, when ballot designs and voting machines need to be ready.
This case could set the tone for how states check if voters are eligible across the country. As America wrestles with worries about election security, the Supreme Court’s choice could reshape how people register to vote nationwide.
The outcome of this legal battle could have big ripple effects. It might change how states handle voter registration and could impact who gets to cast a ballot in future elections.
As both sides dig in their heels, all eyes are on the Supreme Court. Their decision could be a game-changer for election rules, not just in Arizona, but potentially across the entire nation.
