In a recent decision, the Arizona Supreme Court has declared that voters clashing with a proof-of-citizenship glitch are still permitted to cast a 'complete ballot,' encompassing state-level elections.
The court was tasked with determining if these voters should receive a "federal-only" ballot or the comprehensive one, including state and local elections. Regardless of the verdict, these individuals would have had the ability to cast presidential votes.
Arizona utilizes these distinct ballots due to the state's mandate for voters to present proof of citizenship prior to participating in state and local elections. However, this documentation isn't necessary for casting ballots in federal races in Arizona.
The decision enabling approximately 98,000 voters to utilize the comprehensive ballot is a triumph for Arizona's Democratic secretary of state and progressive advocacy groups who advocated for this outcome.
The Arizona Supreme Court delivered this decision mere days after the lawsuit was submitted. Election officials hoped a swift resolution of the matter would minimize confusion in the lead-up to voting season.
This situation is evolving and will be updated.
CNN's Tierney Sneed played a part in compiling this report.
Despite the court's decision, the debate over politics and voter rights continues in Arizona, with advocates pushing for more inclusive voting policies. The politics surrounding these issues have gained significant attention at both the state and national levels.
