A federal judge has ruled against an Arizona group’s legal effort to force county officials to investigate ahead of the upcoming general election whether more than 40,000 registered voters are U.S. citizens.
U.S. District Judge Krissa Lanham, in a 22-page order issued on Oct. 11, denied a motion by Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would have compelled country recorders to immediately verify the citizenship status of individuals registered to vote only in federal elections.
The Strong Communities lawsuit centers on Arizona’s two-tiered voter registration system. Under state law, individuals who provide documented proof of citizenship can vote in all elections. However, the National Voter Registration Act allows those without such proof to register for federal elections by signing an avowal under penalty of perjury….