Supreme Court takes up dispute over Arizona voting restrictions

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a significant case challenging Arizona's tightened voting regulations, specifically focusing on a law requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote using a state form. This decision sets the stage for a high-stakes legal battle over the state's efforts to restrict voting access, particularly in the context of ongoing claims of election fraud.

The dispute involves two Arizona laws enacted in 2022. One mandates that prospective voters registering via the state form must provide proof of citizenship. The second law outlines procedures for election officials to review voter rolls and remove noncitizens. While non-U.S. citizens are prohibited from voting, states like Arizona have implemented new restrictions aimed at ensuring their voter rolls are accurate.

Plaintiffs, including the Democratic National Committee and various nonprofit organizations, argue that these provisions contravene the National Voting Registration Act (NVRA) and a 2018 consent decree between Arizona's secretary of state and the Maricopa County recorder. A federal district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit had previously issued injunctions barring enforcement, finding that the proof-of-citizenship requirement for state-form registrants violated the NVRA and that the rejection of applicants without citizenship proof breached the consent decree.

The 9th Circuit also ruled that Arizona law prohibits election officials from systematically canceling voter registrations within 90 days of a federal election if they have "reason to believe" the individuals are not citizens. The Supreme Court's review, scheduled for its next term beginning in October, will determine the legality of these voting restrictions and their impact on voter registration processes in Arizona.