Phoenix, AZ — Arizona officials have ended a lawsuit after Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap restored voting rights to 25 U.S. citizens who had been incorrectly flagged as potential noncitizens.
The dispute centered on the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database, known as SAVE, which the Trump administration has expanded for use in checking voter citizenship status. The system has previously produced false matches involving U.S. citizens.
Heap initially identified 207 voters he believed might be noncitizens and referred their information to prosecutors. Of 60 who had actually voted, a review by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office found that 52 were citizens and only eight were noncitizens.
Twenty-five citizens nevertheless had their registrations moved to “non eligible” status, preventing them from voting unless they produced additional citizenship documentation.
After a judge ordered mediation Friday, the necessary documents were provided and Heap restored all 25 voters to active status. Ballots were also issued to those enrolled in the county’s early-voting list.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said litigation should not have been necessary to restore their rights. Heap countered that his office acted once legally sufficient documentation was provided.
Republican Maricopa County Supervisor Tom Galvin also criticized Heap, accusing him of wrongly branding citizens as noncitizens before reversing course months later.
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