Arizona is dealing with a major voter registration issue that could impact over 218,000 voters just weeks before the upcoming election. The state's Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) failed to verify proof of citizenship for thousands of voters, a requirement for voting in state and local elections. This error primarily affects voters with driver's licenses issued before 1996, when proof of citizenship was not required.
Secretary of State Adrian Fontes revealed the issue, which has ballooned from an initial estimate of 98,000 affected individuals to a staggering 218,000, including 79,000 Republicans. The discrepancy arose from a data coding mistake, improperly marking individuals as having submitted proof of citizenship when, in fact, many had not.
🚨 MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD IN ARIZONA!
218,000 voters have been wrongly marked as having provided proof of citizenship due to an “error.”
These voters will STILL BE ABLE TO VOTE in the general election even though they didn’t give proof of citizenship. pic.twitter.com/QmAwfiIYxr
— Scott Adams (@scottadamsshow) October 1, 2024
Proposition 200, passed by Arizona voters in 2004, mandates that proof of citizenship be provided to participate in state and local elections, though federal elections do not require the same documentation.
The Arizona GOP has sharply criticized Fontes for what they describe as a lack of transparency and timely solutions to the problem. AZGOP Chair Gina Swoboda expressed frustration, accusing Fontes of misleading the public and calling for the immediate release of the SQL query used to determine the affected voters. Additionally, the party demanded that county recorders, not the Secretary of State’s office, manage the situation, as they are the officials authorized to process voter registration updates.
MASSIVE SCANDAL IN ARIZONA!
218,000 voters have been wrongly marked as having provided proof of citizenship due to an “error.”
These voters will STILL BE ABLE TO VOTE in the general election even though they didn’t give proof of citizenship.
This election fraud is disgraceful! pic.twitter.com/F2bh6TZReY
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) October 1, 2024
Despite the growing concerns, Fontes assured the public that those impacted by the error will still be allowed to vote in the upcoming election, even if their proof of citizenship status is unresolved. His office is working to correct the errors, and election officials will contact the affected voters following the election to ensure proper documentation is submitted where necessary. Fontes also defended the state's election security, arguing that the error should not prevent eligible voters from participating, as they signed legal attestations affirming their citizenship under penalty of perjury.
The court has ruled that those impacted by the registration error will be able to cast full ballots in state and local races, despite the coding mistakes. However, the Arizona GOP and concerned citizens continue to push for full transparency and a rapid solution before election day to ensure confidence in the integrity of the voter rolls.
As Arizona heads toward the general election, concerns about voter integrity are mounting. This registration mishap could lead to further political clashes, as election security remains a deeply divisive issue in the state. Voter confidence, already shaken by claims of fraud in previous elections, could further deteriorate if the situation isn't resolved quickly and transparently.
With over 218,000 voters' eligibility at stake, Arizona's election officials are racing against time to fix the errors. It remains to be seen whether the solutions proposed by the Secretary of State’s office will calm the fears of voters or fuel further concerns about the state’s election system. As Arizona prepares for this high-stakes election, the urgency of maintaining both security and access at the ballot box has never been greater.
