One of the most important states in the 2024 presidential election has a loophole in its election procedures that could allow non-citizens to vote in the federal election, experts told The Daily Caller. Ta.
Democratic Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes is the state's Election procedure manual (EPM) allows individuals whose citizenship cannot be verified to register as “federal-only” voters and vote in future elections. (Related: Democrats cry MAGA secretary of state will rig election, incident happens in Maine)
Please read the manual:
“Eligible registrants who do not submit a DPOC (proof of citizenship) and whose U.S. citizenship cannot be verified by AZMVD records or other records in the statewide voter registration database will be registered as “Federal Only'' voters. Masu. “Federal-only” voters are eligible to vote only in races for federal office in Arizona, including Presidential Preferences (PPE),” the EPM states on page 3 of Chapter 1.
Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, told the Daily Caller that Arizona's two-tier voter registration system could allow undocumented immigrants to vote in the next election. Ta.
“I think it's absolutely possible, because if you're not asking for proof of citizenship, you're just riding on people's word, oh, I'm a U.S. citizen, so foreigners can register and vote.” You will,” von Spakovsky told Caller.
“The Department of Justice does not prosecute these cases, even though it is a federal felony for foreign nationals to register and vote,” he continued. “There is an incentive for foreigners in the form of a voter registration card, which they receive when they register is a gateway to obtaining other types of identification.”
he mentioned I-9 form It is federally required for employers to fill out and includes the fact that individuals can use their voter registration cards to prove their identity. (Related: Exclusive: Terrorists caught crossing border illegally were allowed to roam free for almost a year, memo says)
Ken Cuccinelli, a former top official at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and national president of the Election Transparency Initiative (ETI), expressed similar concerns in a statement to the Caller.
“Adrian Fontes could have used his election procedure manual to close a decade-old loophole regarding non-referendum voting in Arizona elections. “allowed non-citizens and individuals who could not prove their citizenship to vote in presidential preference elections,” Cuccinelli said.
“So the same illegal aliens who have flooded across the open border at unprecedented levels in recent years could help determine the winner of the state's Republican presidential primary in March.” The manual is not subject to legislative review, so we have no choice but to rely on the most radical far-left administration in Arizona's history.”
EPM cites a 2013 Supreme Court ruling. Arizona v. Arizona Inter-Tribal Council, a lawsuit brought by left-wing groups challenging an Arizona law requiring citizenship checks to register to vote.judges control In a 7-2 ruling, the National Voter Registration Act preempted Arizona's citizenship verification law, leading to the creation of the state's two-tier voting system.
“The National Voter Registration Act requires states to “accept and use'' voter registration forms created by the federal government. The federal form has questions about citizenship, but only requires that voter applicants swear under penalty of perjury that they are citizens. There is no need for you to submit any documentary evidence. Arizona law requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. The Supreme Court held that for federal elections, Arizona must accept federal voter registration forms and cannot impose additional requirements, such as requiring proof of citizenship.''America First Legal (AFL) James Rogers, a senior adviser at , told a reporter by phone. .
“However, Arizona still has the authority to require proof of citizenship for state and local races. As a result, voters in Arizona now have two options to register to vote. Their first option is to fill out a state voter registration form and provide proof of citizenship so they can vote in federal, state, and local elections. Their second option is , to avoid filling out federal forms and submitting proof of citizenship, and to be able to vote only in federal elections. This bifurcated system is unique to Arizona, where more than 20,000 people Voters are choosing to file federal-only forms.Thus, these 20,000 people avoided the requirement to prove citizenship, but they also waived the opportunity to vote in state and local elections.Why do these people “It would be interesting to understand why they chose to file a federal-only form, but no one seems to have investigated why,” he added.
PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 14: Adrian Fontes, newly elected Arizona Secretary of State, speaks during a speech at American Legion Post 41 in Phoenix, Arizona on November 14, 2022. I will watch over you. Fontes defeated Republican candidate Mark Finchem, who alleges widespread election fraud in the state. (Photo by John Cherry/Getty Images)
If an individual files a federal voter registration, they are registered as a “federal only” voter. shape Do not have the necessary documents to confirm citizenship. You cannot register for state-level elections in Arizona without verifying your citizenship.
If the county recorder conducts a background check and cannot confirm the registrant's citizenship, the registrant may be registered as a “Federal Only'' voter based on the sworn statement on the registration form that the registrant is a U.S. citizen. Valid voter registration forms submitted to the county recorder without an attached DPOC shall be accepted, entered into the database, and registered for federal elections.'' EPM says on page 8.
If Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (AZMVD) records do not indicate that the individual has a noncitizen permit; Existence specificationIf you submit an oath, such as an “F-type” driver's license, it will be registered.
Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Chris Mays approved Fontes' new EPM for the December Arizona election. EPM is Last updated In 2019, when Hobbs was secretary of state, it included a similar provision for “federal-only” voters.
In the 2022 midterm elections, Hobbs lost Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, 50.3% to 49.7%, narrow margin. rahul17,000 votes.Mr. Fontes later became Secretary of State. win In the most recent midterm elections, he beat Republican candidate Mark Finchem 52.4% to 47.6%.
In the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden lost In Arizona, former President Donald Trump won 49.36% to 49.06%, a difference of about 10,000 votes.
Trump is expected to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2024 and face Biden again in the November election. According to reports, general election polls conducted in December show Trump leading Biden in the state. 538.

LUKEVILLE, AZ – DECEMBER 7: Immigrants from the West African country of Guinea pose in celebration after successfully crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on December 7, 2023 in Lukeville, Arizona. The surge in migrants crossing illegally through openings in the border wall created by smugglers has overwhelmed U.S. immigration authorities, forcing them to close several international ports of entry to allow officials to help process new arrivals. There is. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Arizona's illegal immigrant population peaked in 2008 at an estimated 560,000 people, but has declined by about 230,000 due to legislative efforts aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration, the Arizona Republic said. report.Migration Policy Research Institute Estimation Based on 2019 data, Arizona's illegal population is 273,000.
An average of more than 1,300 migrants cross state lines each day as the Biden administration oversees record numbers of illegal immigrants entering the U.S., NBC News report In August.
Hobbs requested reinforcements from the Biden administration but received no assistance, so in December he sent the National Guard to state borders to help stop human trafficking and fentanyl smuggling. The federal government temporarily closed the Lukeville, Arizona, port of entry in December due to a surge in illegal immigration, and reopened it in January. report.
Border Patrol apprehended an estimated 18,900 migrants during the week of Dec. 8, said the Border Patrol's division chief in Tucson, Arizona. Said. The Daily Caller News Foundation first reported that Border Patrol agents from across the country have been brought in to help process migrants who are “virtually” crossing the border in Arizona due to the surge.
The number of encounters at the southern border has exceeded 2 million in the past two fiscal years, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). data is shown.
“Non-citizens should not register or vote in American elections. Laws that require proof of citizenship to register and vote protect the integrity of elections. Unfortunately, liberal politicians and left-wing activists routinely attacks the laws and safeguards that help states identify and prevent non-referendum voting,” Honest Elections Project Executive Director Jason Sneed told the Caller.
The Daily Caller reached out to Fontes' office to ask for clarity about the loophole and whether non-citizens will be able to vote in Arizona. they didn't respond.