Arizona is moving to verify and potentially remove up to 50,000 “federal-only” voters from its voter rolls following legal action initiated by America First Legal (AFL). These voters registered using a federal form without submitting proof of U.S. citizenship, which is not required for federal elections under a 2013 Supreme Court ruling. However, Arizona law requires documentary proof of citizenship to vote in state and local elections, creating a bifurcated system of voter eligibility.
The recent lawsuit filed by AFL on behalf of naturalized citizen Yvonne Cahill and grassroots group EZAZ.org accused all 15 Arizona counties of failing to verify citizenship status as required by state law. The complaint alleged non-compliance with statutory duties to conduct monthly checks and use federal resources to confirm citizenship. As a result, these “federal-only” voters were allowed to vote in federal races without ever proving their citizenship.
In response to the litigation, Arizona counties have begun coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to verify the citizenship status of registered voters. This includes cross-checking immigration data and conducting monthly audits to update the rolls. The goal is to ensure only U.S. citizens are included on the voter rolls, even for federal-only eligibility.
While the federal voter registration form does not mandate proof of citizenship, Arizona has maintained its authority to enforce such requirements for state and local ballots. In 2024, the Supreme Court upheld the state’s enforcement of proof-of-citizenship requirements for state elections, while reaffirming that those registering with the federal form must still be permitted to vote in federal contests.
This case underscores the ongoing tension between federal voter registration standards and state-level election integrity laws. With Arizona now enforcing monthly checks and DHS coordination, it may serve as a model for other states seeking to tighten controls on voter eligibility.
