Maricopa County, Arizona, is facing a lawsuit from America First Legal (AFL) for allegedly refusing to remove non-citizens from its voter rolls. The lawsuit, filed by AFL on behalf of the Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona and a naturalized citizen, claims that Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer has failed to comply with state laws requiring verification of voter citizenship.
AFL's lawsuit is grounded in concerns over voter integrity, highlighting an increase in the number of registered voters without confirmed citizenship from 21,595 in April to 26,108 in July. AFL argues that this surge signifies a failure on Richer’s part to perform the mandated monthly checks to ensure only eligible citizens remain on the voter rolls.
https://twitter.com/America1stLegal/status/1821183181527064877
Stephen Miller, president of AFL and former senior advisor to President Trump, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "Maricopa County, in direct violation of state law, is refusing to remove illegal alien voters from the rolls.
We are taking decisive action to prevent illegal aliens and foreign citizens from interfering in the 2024 election".
/1🚨🗳️NEW LAWSUIT TO STOP ILLEGAL ALIEN VOTING
We just sued Maricopa County, AZ for refusing to remove illegal aliens from their voter rolls ahead of the election.
Maricopa officials are blatantly defying a state law mandate to purge ineligible voters from the rolls—so we SUED: pic.twitter.com/T4KqapmegF
— America First Legal (@America1stLegal) August 7, 2024
The legal action follows a series of letters sent by AFL to all fifteen Arizona counties in July, demanding compliance with state and federal laws to ensure non-citizens do not vote. Richer responded through his attorney, asserting that his office was already following legal procedures. However, AFL disputes this, pointing to the rising number of unverified voters as evidence of inadequate enforcement.
Critics argue that the presence of non-citizens on the voter rolls could undermine the integrity of upcoming elections, potentially allowing ineligible individuals to influence the results. This lawsuit underscores broader concerns about election security and the need for rigorous verification processes.
The lawsuit seeks to compel Maricopa County to adhere to voter list maintenance requirements and restore public trust in the electoral system. It alleges that Richer has not utilized available databases to verify voter citizenship, a crucial step in ensuring only eligible voters participate in elections.
This legal challenge comes at a pivotal time, with the 2024 presidential election approaching and voter integrity remaining a contentious issue nationwide. As the case unfolds, it will likely prompt further debate about the measures necessary to safeguard the democratic process and uphold the principle of one person, one vote.
