Amid growing debates over election integrity, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has spotlighted Arizona’s voting processes, calling for federal voter ID requirements. Her statements have sparked controversy, with critics accusing her of spreading misinformation.
Noem arrived in the Phoenix area to push for the SAVE Act, a proposal mandating proof of citizenship for voter registration — a requirement already in place in Arizona. During her visit, she described Arizona’s election system as problematic, attributing her concerns to long voter lines.
The issue of long lines was particularly evident in 2020 in Maricopa County, where technological hiccups with ballot machines led to delays. However, voters who remained were able to successfully cast their votes.
Accompanied by GOP figures such as Congressman Paul Gosar and Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap, Noem led a press conference, though her companions remained silent. She mentioned discussions with local officials about alleged instances of fraud but did not provide specific examples from Arizona.
Noem emphasized the need for Arizona to update its voter rolls, suggesting, “There’s no state that could use more improvement than Arizona.” She urged residents to question their leaders about ensuring vote integrity and confidence in the system.
Republican Congressman Eli Crane, who joined later, expressed support for faster election outcomes and advocated for hand-counting ballots. This method, although less efficient and accurate than machines, was supported by Crane who also mentioned concerns about election fraud.
The state Senate’s 2021 audit of Maricopa County’s ballots, conducted manually, affirmed Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory. Crane, however, did not clarify his stance on whether foreign interference impacted the election or if the audit confirmed Biden’s win.
Democratic leaders have criticized Noem’s actions, accusing her of undermining trust in the state’s electoral process. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes dismissed her comments as uninformed, given Arizona’s current election laws.
“Have you ever had somebody come to your job and tell you to do a job that you’re already doing? Well, that’s what Kristi Noem just did to the State of Arizona and to my office,” Fontes said in a video posted on social media.
Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes also voiced opposition, stating Noem’s remarks were “nothing more than another baseless attack from a federal government that lies to the American people on a daily basis.” She added that trust could be restored if “the Trump administration wants to start by telling the truth about them.”
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