Phoenix, AZ – On Monday, a political committee, Arizonans for Voter ID, filed the “Arizonans for Voter ID Act” ballot initiative with the Secretary of State’s Office. Organizers say the initiative will make it easier to vote, but harder to cheat.
The initiative is supported by a growing list of organizations including the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, Heritage Action, Honest Elections Project Action, Foundation for Government Accountability, the Goldwater Institute, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Arizona, AMAC Action, and Arizona Women of Action.
The initiative is expected to improve existing voter ID requirements for in-person voters, deter ballot harvesting by requiring ID from individuals returning a voter’s ballot, and require voter ID on mail in ballots. Voters would be required to write their date of birth and either the last four digits of their Social Security Number, Arizona driver’s license number, or nonoperating state identification number in addition to their signature.
“Arizonans show identification all the time in their daily lives to purchase alcohol, receive unemployment benefits, make major transactions, and board a plane, among others. Requiring identification before casting a ballot is necessary for our elections,” said Vicki Vaughn, Chair of Arizonans for Voter ID Committee.
“The vast majority of Arizona voters support voter ID because it is a common-sense and critical election integrity practice that is increasingly implemented around the country,” said Scot Mussi, President of the Free Enterprise Club. “This initiative will ensure that no matter when you vote, where you vote, or how you vote, identification will be required.”
“Elections are too important to not have common-sense safeguards like requiring identification on mail-in ballots,” said Executive Director of Heritage Action Jessica Anderson. “This is being done in Florida, Georgia, Texas, among other states and is a necessary policy to safeguard Arizona’s elections.”