Kristi Noem Slams Arizona's Election Security, Pushes for Stricter Voter ID Laws

Homeland Security Secretary criticizes Arizona's election systems, calls for federal legislation to require voter ID and proof of citizenship

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Scottsdale, Arizona and sharply criticized the state's election systems, calling them an "absolute disaster." Noem pushed for passage of the SAVE America Act, a federal bill that would mandate voter ID and proof of citizenship to register to vote. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes pushed back, saying the state already has strong election security laws and that Noem should not be telling Arizona how to run its elections.

Why it matters

Noem's comments and push for the SAVE America Act highlight ongoing partisan debates around election security and voter ID laws. The bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate, but if passed, could significantly impact Arizona voters by requiring additional documentation to register and vote.

The details

During her visit, Noem said Arizona's elections have "failed" voters in the past, with long lines and technical issues disenfranchising citizens. She argued the SAVE America Act is needed to prevent non-citizens from voting. However, Arizona already requires voter ID and proof of citizenship to register. Fontes, the Secretary of State, said his office has investigated over 300 cases of potential voter fraud and referred them for prosecution. He accused Noem of overstepping by telling Arizona how to run its elections.

  • Noem spoke at a press conference on election security on February 14, 2026.
  • The SAVE America Act has passed the U.S. House and is now facing an uphill battle in the Senate.

The players

Kristi Noem

The Homeland Security Secretary who criticized Arizona's election systems and pushed for the SAVE America Act.

Adrian Fontes

The Arizona Secretary of State who pushed back against Noem's comments, saying Arizona already has strong election security laws.

Kris Mayes

The Arizona Attorney General who received voter fraud cases referred by Fontes' office.

Greg Stanton

A U.S. Representative who voted against the SAVE America Act, calling it unconstitutional.

Paul Gosar

A U.S. Representative who met with Noem during her visit to Scottsdale.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You're coming into Arizona, Secretary Noem, and telling me, the secretary of state, to do a job that I'm already doing.”

— Adrian Fontes, Arizona Secretary of State (Instagram)

“This is federal legislation that does some common-sense, straightforward things.”

— Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary (abc15.com)

“The bill would require states across this country to hand over voter information to the federal government. That is completely and totally unconstitutional.”

— Greg Stanton, U.S. Representative (abc15.com)

What’s next

The SAVE America Act faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Republicans have a narrow majority. Its fate will be closely watched as the debate over election security and voter ID laws continues.

The takeaway

Noem's criticism of Arizona's election systems and push for stricter voter ID laws highlights the ongoing partisan divide over election security. While Arizona already has strong voter ID and citizenship requirements, the SAVE America Act could add additional burdens for voters if enacted, further fueling debates over ballot access and election integrity.