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FACT BRIEF

Can an Arizona identification card or driver's license be used to verify citizenship for voter registration?

By Carmela Guaglianone
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YES

Arizona identification cards issued after 1996 may satisfy the state’s requirement to provide proof of citizenship for voter registration.

Arizona driver’s licenses and non-driver identification cards issued after Oct. 1, 1996, require proof of citizenship or resident alien status for issuance. These licenses and cards satisfy the state’s unique requirement that individuals provide proof of citizenship to register to vote in state and local elections.

The identification number provided on the license or card is entered into a statewide voter database and checked against Arizona Motor Vehicles Division records to determine citizenship status for registration. If the number provided by the applicant indicates the individual is a citizen, and has provided necessary proof to the MVD, their license or card adequately satisfies the state’s voter registration requirement.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Arizona Secretary of State 2019 Elections Procedure Manual
Arizona Department of Transportation Proof of Identification, Age and Authorized Presence
Arizona Attorney General's Office Identification Requirements For Voter Registration
Arizona Legislature A.R.S. § 16-166(F)(1); Verification of registration
Arizona Legislature A.R.S. § 41-1080; Licensing eligibility; authorized presence; documentation; applicability; definitions
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is the state’s only independent, nonpartisan and collaborative nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide, data-driven investigative reporting. AZCIR's mission is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable by exposing injustice and systemic inequities through investigative journalism.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.