U.S. judge blocks AZ law requiring citizenship proof on federal voting registration forms

By Greg Hahne
Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services
Published: Friday, September 15, 2023 - 2:34pm

A federal judge has blocked Arizona from enforcing a 2022 state law limiting who can vote for president.

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton issued the order this week in an ongoing voting-rights case.

Last year, the state passed a law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote using federal forms. It also required proof to cast ballots in presidential elections. 

Bolton ruled that states can’t set requirements for federal registration forms. The federal process only requires a signed statement, under penalty of perjury, that they are citizens.

A full trial will be held for other changes made to state voter registration laws that potentially run afoul of federal laws.

Bolton issued a separate order requiring Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma to produce communications regarding the legislative process for those voting laws.

Politics Elections