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Voter ID measure heads to ballot for Arizonans to decide

Arizona voters will decide in November whether to change the state’s voter identification laws. On Monday, the Republican-controlled House joined the Senate in passing a measure that would tack on more requirements for early voting and vote by mail. Republican John Kavanagh says the measure seeks to close loopholes and protect voters’ ballots and information.

“This simply closes that weak link by simply requiring the person to put other information that somebody stealing their ballot might not be privy to," Kavanagh said. "Specifically, the driver’s license or non-driver ID number, and the last four digits of [the] Social Security number.”

"I don’t see what’s wrong with this. I really don’t," fellow Republican Walter Blackman said. He too voted in favor of the measure. "All it’s doing is protecting our elections and the process."

Arizona already has some of the strictest voter-ID laws in the United States, which is why opponents say the measure is unnecessary. Democrat Mitzi Epstein says it’s not about protecting ballots.

"We respect and appreciate voter ID laws," Epstein said. "But this is barrier, after hoop, after lava pit, after problem, after more barriers. This is voter suppression."

Democrats say Republican, Libertarian and Democratic ballots alike are at-risk of being corrupted. If passed by voters in November, the requirements would take effect once the results were finalized.

Nick Sanchez is a senior producer for KJZZ's The Show. He joined the station as an intern during the spring of 2022, where he developed a passion for audio storytelling in the Valley.