Court reinstates Arizona election security laws ahead of 2024 US election
A US appeals court reinstated two controversial Arizona election security laws on Thursday, clearing the way for their enforcement ahead of the upcoming US presidential election.
These laws are aimed at preventing voters from being registered in multiple jurisdictions, which supporters claim will bolster election integrity in the critical battleground state.
The provisions, initially blocked by a judge in 2022, grant counties the authority to cancel voter registrations for individuals who have moved out of state.
Additionally, the laws criminalize any attempts to allow out-of-state residents to vote in Arizona, where both parties expect a close contest in the November 5 election.
The lawsuit challenging the laws was brought by several advocacy groups, including Voto Latino, Priorities USA, and the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans.
These groups argued that the provisions would disproportionately target voter registration efforts and could criminalize common voting practices.
However, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a 2-1 decision that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to challenge the laws and rejected claims that one of the provisions violated the US Constitution.
Thursday’s ruling is the latest development in a broader national legal battle over election laws, with numerous lawsuits filed across the country in the lead-up to the 2024 election
.Republicans have pushed for stricter election security measures in many states, while Democrats and voting rights advocates have fought to block those efforts, warning that such laws could suppress voter turnout and disenfranchise eligible voters.
Arizona, a key swing state, has been at the center of these debates since the 2020 presidential election, when Joe Biden narrowly defeated Donald Trump by just over 10,000 votes.
Trump, who will face Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, continues to falsely claim that the 2020 election was marred by widespread voter fraud.
In response to these claims, many Republican-led states, including Arizona, have enacted new election laws intended to address concerns about voter fraud.
However, critics argue that these laws are unnecessary and are designed to make it more difficult for certain groups—particularly minority and low-income voters—to cast their ballots.
The Arizona laws were temporarily blocked in 2022 as part of an ongoing lawsuit, with the plaintiffs arguing that the provisions could have a chilling effect on voter registration drives and unintentionally criminalize routine voter behavior.
However, the appeals court’s decision allows the state to proceed with enforcement, potentially affecting thousands of voters ahead of the November election.
With Arizona being one of the most closely watched states in the 2024 race, the ruling could have significant implications for the election outcome.
Both parties are preparing for a legal showdown over election rules, and further court challenges are expected as the election draws nearer.
The advocacy groups behind the lawsuit did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the court’s decision.
Arizona officials, meanwhile, have defended the laws as necessary safeguards to prevent voter fraud and ensure that only eligible residents participate in the election.
Similarly, Georgia's election board, controlled by Republicans, has voted to implement a manual count of ballots in November’s upcoming election, a move that has drawn strong opposition from election officials and voting rights groups
As litigation over election rules continues to unfold across the country, the Arizona ruling is seen as a key victory for those pushing for tighter election security measures.