Arizona voter registration

Rachel Leingang Arizona Republic Published 10:49 PM EDT Oct 17, 2018 The number of people newly registered to vote in Arizona this year is more than double that of the last midterm election year, which could signal a higher turnout to come in November, new figures from the Secretary of State's Office show. And the youngest voting demographic, those aged 18 to 24, has more new voters registered than all other age groups since Jan. 1 — and possibly more than their cohort in 2016, a presidential election year. But, one expert said, the big increase in registrations likely won't move the needle massively in November. "I believe changes in voter turnout and demography in the state of Arizona are incremental, and we will see an incremental shift in voter turnout," said Paul Bentz, vice president of research and strategy for consulting firm HighGround.  And, while more new Democrats registered this year than Republicans, GOP voters still make up the … [Read more...] about Arizona voter registration surges ahead of 2018 midterm election

Dustin Gardiner Arizona Republic Published 1:00 p.m. UTC Jul 6, 2018 Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan's decision to settle a lawsuit over the state's voter-registration rules has triggered a torrent of criticism from Steve Gaynor, her opponent in the Aug. 28 Republican primary. Gaynor, a wealthy businessman, blasted the decision in robocalls to thousands of GOP voters at the end of June, saying Reagan is "allowing illegal immigrants to vote in federal elections in Arizona." His attack comes after Reagan settled a lawsuit filed by non-profit groups who say the state's two-track voter registration system — with different rules for voting in state and federal races — unconstitutionally blocks tens of thousands of people from voting. Last month, Reagan agreed to a settlement that will require the state to allow more people to vote in federal elections without providing proof of citizenship. She said the … [Read more...] about Republican secretary of state candidates spar over Arizona’s voter-registration rules

The state’s top election official has agreed to remove a series of hurdles now in the path of those who want to register to vote. In a consent degree published Monday, Secretary of State Michele Reagan has agreed to: – Not demand proof of citizenship to register for federal, state and local elections if people already have provided such proof to the Motor Vehicle Division; – Make it easier for people to move from county to county without having to provide new citizenship proof at their new address; – Accept voter registration forms from those who do not have proof of citizenship to let them at least cast ballots for president and members of Congress. But the deal, which ends a lawsuit filed last year, still leaves intact laws which say that those who cannot provide citizenship proof are unable to vote in elections to choose statewide, legislative and local officials. The legal fight has its roots in Proposition 200, a 2004 ballot measure which was part of a … [Read more...] about Settlement removes hurdles to voter registration