Only United States citizens should be voting in our elections. That shouldn’t be a controversial statement. But of course, it’s 2024, and the Left hasn’t instituted its open border policies under the Biden-Harris administration for nothing.
The fact is that U.S. citizens can’t go into France, Australia, or any other country throughout the world and vote in their elections. Why should citizens from other countries be allowed to vote in our elections?
While it’s certainly illegal for non-citizens to vote here, the law is only as good as the mechanism in place to make sure it’s followed. That’s why it is critical for the integrity of our nation’s elections that voters prove their citizenship prior to voting. And the SAVE Act is a much-needed remedy that would address this issue head on.
Sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy from Texas, who has certainly experienced firsthand the issues that arise from the current surge at the border, the SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) in order to vote in federal elections. It’s a constitutional solution to keep non-citizens from voting.
But given Congress’s propensity for inaction, states should not wait around to see if our federal lawmakers will pass the SAVE Act or another reasonable solution. Arizona has been a leader on this issue for years and has already enacted a comprehensive solution that every state should follow.
In 2022, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club authored HB 2492, which was passed by the legislature and signed by then-Governor Doug Ducey. This comprehensive voter integrity law implements a suite of reforms that ensures that non-U.S. citizens are stopped from voting in Arizona elections.
First, HB2492 mandates that Arizona election officials shall reject any state voter registration form that does not include documented proof of citizenship. If an election official accepts one of these applications, he or she is guilty of a class 5 felony. Just last month, this provision was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and allowed to go into effect.
Second, the law requires that election officials check a multitude of databases to determine the citizenship status of an applicant that registers with a federal registration form and doesn’t provide proof of citizenship.Based on those database checks, if the election official finds the applicant in a database and confirms that the applicant is a U.S. citizen, the applicant would be properly registered to vote. However, if the election official finds that the applicant is not a U.S. citizen, the application would need to be rejected. The election official would then be required to inform the Attorney General and county attorney because the applicant lied on a voter registration form, which is a crime. Lastly, if election officials cannot find the applicant in any database, they are required to send a notice to the applicant requesting DPOC within 30 days.
Third, HB 2492 prohibits any person that fails to provide proof of citizenship from voting for president in the General Election. Arizona, like every other state, has the plenary power over the conduct of Presidential Elections. And this includes preventing anyone that is not a verified U.S. Citizen from voting for president.
And finally, only individuals that provide proof of citizenship when registering are eligible to vote by mail. There is no state or federal right to vote by mail and as recognized by Justice Alito in Brnovich v. DNC, “Arizona law generally makes it easy to vote.” And when the “totality of circumstances” is considered, HB2492 would not place a significant burden on voters by requiring DPOC to vote early by mail.
Stopping illegals from voting in our elections requires action at every level of government. We need Congress to pass the SAVE Act, and we need every state to take proactive measures to ensure only U.S. Citizens are voting in elections. For two decades, Arizona worked on this issue. Now HB 2492 serves as the roadmap for every state to protect their voter rolls and stop non-U.S. citizens from voting in our elections. Until the SAVE Act is passed, every state in the country should follow our lead with their own version now.
Help Protect Freedom in Arizona by Joining Our Grassroots Network
Arizona needs to have a unified voice promoting economic freedom and prosperity, and the Free Enterprise Club is committed to making that happen. But we can’t do it alone. We need YOU!
Join our FREE Grassroots Action List to stay up to date on the latest battles against big government and how YOU can help influence crucial bills at the Arizona State Legislature.
Recent Comments