Arizona to Begin Purge of Non-Citizens from Voter Rolls Following Settlement
Effort Could Impact Tens of Thousands of ‘Federal-Only’ Registered Voters
Arizona election officials will begin cross-checking voter registration rolls with federal immigration data to identify and remove non-citizens, following a legal settlement with America First Legal (AFL). The move could affect up to 50,000 individuals currently registered to vote in federal elections across the state.
The settlement, finalized this week, marks a major step in Arizona’s efforts to enforce voter eligibility laws and ensure that only U.S. citizens remain on the voter rolls.
Background of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2023 by AFL, alleged that Arizona’s 15 counties were not utilizing federal resources to confirm voter citizenship status as required under state law. The litigation targeted individuals registered as “federal-only” voters—those who are eligible to vote in federal elections but have not submitted documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC), which is required to participate in state and local contests.
Under the settlement terms, all Arizona counties agreed to request verification assistance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to confirm the citizenship status of federal-only voters.
What the Counties Are Saying
In legal filings, Coconino County acknowledged it had not previously reached out to DHS for citizenship verification. Maricopa County, the state’s largest jurisdiction, released a statement confirming it has “initiated communications” with DHS.
“The Office is seeking assistance to verify the citizenship status of registered voters who have not provided Documentary Proof of Citizenship,” Maricopa County officials said. “This action aligns with Arizona law and underscores the Recorder’s responsibility to maintain accurate voter registration rolls.”
AFL: A Victory for Election Integrity
James Rogers, senior counsel for America First Legal, called the settlement a major win for election transparency and integrity.
“This is a great result for all Arizonans,” Rogers said in a statement. “This will help County Recorders find and remove any aliens on their voter rolls. It will also potentially enfranchise federal-only voters whose citizenship is confirmed, which would allow them to vote in state and local elections.”
Rogers credited all 15 counties for taking this “bold and important step.”
Citizenship Still Required for State and Local Voting
Arizona law mandates that voters provide documentation proving U.S. citizenship in order to vote in state and local elections. However, due to federal court rulings, individuals who register using the federal voter registration form without proof of citizenship can still vote in federal races only.
Critics argue that this has created a loophole for non-citizens to remain on voting rolls undetected, prompting the state and AFL to act.
The Path Forward
The agreement is expected to result in a significant purge of ineligible voters from the federal-only list, a move that proponents say is essential to restoring voter confidence ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Counties will now be expected to consult DHS records routinely as part of their voter roll maintenance procedures.
The lawsuit was officially dismissed after all parties agreed to implement the verification process.
