A federal judge has ruled that a group in Arizona does not have the legal standing to demand checks on the citizenship status of registered voters, and noted that federal law prevents voter list updates within 90 days of an election. The ruling came after Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona sought legal action to compel county officials to verify whether over 40,000 voters, registered for federal elections, were U.S. citizens.
In her October 11 ruling, U.S. District Judge Krissa Lanham rejected the group’s request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. The lawsuit focuses on Arizona’s dual voter registration system, where proof of citizenship is required for state elections but not for federal elections. Currently, individuals can register for federal elections by signing a legal statement under the National Voter Registration Act.
The lawsuit argues that county recorders in Arizona are not following state laws requiring them to maintain voter lists free of ineligible voters, claiming this failure could allow noncitizens to vote. However, the judge ruled that the group lacked standing to enforce this issue, as their concerns are shared by all voters and thus constitute a "generalized grievance."
Additionally, the judge stated that even if the group had standing, their request to verify citizenship so close to the November 5 election would be impractical. Lanham highlighted that federal law restricts systematic voter list updates during the 90-day period leading up to an election.
Strong Communities argued that not verifying citizenship could erode public trust in election integrity. Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, one of the defendants, countered that the group’s demands were based on unproven claims, noting that Arizona’s verification processes are already sufficient under the law. Richer also referenced a state Supreme Court ruling that rejected the notion that a lack of citizenship documentation automatically indicates noncitizenship.
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