In February, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a blow to Arizona’s voter laws. They ruled against provisions requiring documentary proof of citizenship for presidential elections. The panel’s 2-1 majority didn’t mince words, calling many of these measures “unlawful measures of voter suppression.” Like a Pavement song that seemed straightforward until you really listened to the lyrics, this ruling has layers beneath its surface.
Arizona Republican leaders aren’t taking this lying down. State Senate President Warren Petersen is already eyeing the Supreme Court.
The 9th Circuit also criticized the district court for claiming one of the laws wasn’t meant to discriminate. They remanded that decision for a second look, which is basically judicial speak for “try again.”
Both laws - HB 2492 and HB 2243 - came from former Governor Doug Ducey’s desk in 2022. The official line was preventing noncitizen voting - a problem about as common as a two-dollar bill. HB 2492 demanded citizenship proof for presidential elections even from people using the federal registration form that doesn’t require it. HB 2243 told county officials to check anyone they had “reason to believe” wasn’t a citizen - and cancel the registration if citizenship couldn’t be confirmed.
Voting rights groups sued right away, and the Biden administration and the DNC joined the fight. A district court blocked most of the laws in 2024, months before the presidential election. The Supreme Court partially stepped in, allowing some requirements for new voters while the case continued.
The fight isn’t over - but for now, the 9th Circuit is keeping these measures blocked.
Correction, September 28th, 2026: This essay first said Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen was asking the Justice Department to back off - that part is cut, and his name is now spelled right. It also said a district court blocked the laws during the 2022 midterms - that happened in 2024.
Update, September 28th, 2026: A few lines now give the ruling’s date, its exact words, the law’s actual standard and who sued when - and on June 29th, 2026, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, with Trump’s Justice Department now siding with the Republican National Committee.