In a pivotal ruling on Friday, the Arizona Supreme Court announced that nearly 98,000 individuals, whose U.S. citizenship has not been officially confirmed, will be allowed to vote in the upcoming state and local elections. The decision comes after a “coding oversight” in state software led to discrepancies regarding the citizenship status of nearly 100,000 registered voters in Arizona.
The error, which dates back to individuals who obtained their driver’s licenses before October 1996 and later registered to vote after 2004, became a point of contention between Arizona’s Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, a Republican. Fontes, acknowledging the database error, stated his intent to ensure ballots were sent to those affected regardless of the oversight.
“This was discovered not because somebody was voting illegally and not because somebody was attempting to vote illegally, as far as we can tell,” Fontes explained during a news conference on Tuesday. “This was basic voter roll maintenance, and it showed us that there is this issue.”
The citizenship status of these voters became a flashpoint, with Richer arguing that Arizona’s proof of citizenship law mandates stricter measures. The law requires voters to provide documented proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in state and local races, a rule that some of the affected voters had not complied with, according to Richer.
“It is my position that these registrants have not satisfied Arizona’s documented proof of citizenship law, and therefore can only vote a ‘FED ONLY’ ballot,” Richer wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Richer filed a special action earlier in the week, urging the state Supreme Court to intervene and settle the matter.
Despite the legal challenge, the state Supreme Court’s ruling ensures that these voters can participate in both state and local elections, a decision that carries significant implications as Arizona remains a highly contested swing state. Arizona flipped blue in the 2020 presidential election, intensifying the ongoing debate over voting laws and election integrity within the state.
This controversy comes amidst broader efforts by Arizona Republicans and conservative watchdog groups pushing for stricter voting measures, including the enforcement of proof of citizenship for participation in all state and federal elections.
The case highlights the increasing scrutiny on voter registration practices and database maintenance, especially in battleground states where electoral outcomes can sway national results. As the upcoming elections approach, Arizona’s handling of voter eligibility is likely to remain a key issue in the state’s political landscape.
Source: FOX News
