Arizona Governor Signs Election Integrity Legislation As Activists Lament ‘Disenfranchisement’ – Opinion

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on Wednesday signed voter ID legislation. This law will require Arizona residents to present proof of their citizenship and residency in order to register to vote. “Voting rights advocates” are lamenting that it could result in thousands of ineligible registrations.

CNN

Arizona Republican Governor. Doug Ducey on Wednesday signed legislation that would require all Arizonans to provide proof of citizenship and residency to register to vote, sparking criticism from voting rights advocates who say it will potentially cancel thousands of voter registrations and are exploring legal challenges in response.

Voting rights advocates point out that many voters didn’t have to previously provide such proof. Critics claim that this documentation isn’t readily accessible when filing forms.

“People can probably produce (the documentation) if they know they need to, but they’re probably not going to have them in the grocery store (when at a voter registration drive),” Alex Gulotta, Arizona director of All Voting is Local, told CNN Wednesday.

“We’ve never had to do this before!” seems like a weak argument against voter id; and people who go to government services without the correct documentation do what people have done since the beginning of government…they go home and get what they need and come back. The angst over “potentially” cancelling thousands of voter registrations seems misplaced. There’s an easy fix to having your legitimate voting registration cancelled. Simply provide the required documents. If you don’t have them, that means you’re not eligible to vote and should not be attempting to vote in the first place.

This is the “tie my shoes” approach to voting. Progressives keep pushing the definition of “disenfranchisement” further and further to the fringes, where any work that an individual has to do in order to vote is considered a roadblock. If someone can’t come to your house, get you dressed, tie your shoes and get you to the polls…disenfranchisement!

This legislation is similar to those in at most 12 states. GOP lawmakers are racing for election integrity just before midterm elections.