Arizona’s Secretary of State, Adrian Fontes, announced on Monday that there are now approximately 218,000 voters identified as having full access to the ballot without verifying their citizenship. This figure has surged from the previous estimate of 98,000 misclassified voters shared just a month ago.
This discrepancy represents 5.3 percent of all registered voters in the state. While it doesn’t affect eligibility for federal elections, it could have a significant impact on local and state contests, particularly in close races and contentious ballot measures related to abortion and immigration.
As a critical swing state for the upcoming presidential election, Arizona mandates that voters provide proof of citizenship for a full ballot. However, residents can still participate in federal elections if they declare their citizenship under penalty of perjury.
It’s puzzling how this additional group of voters slipped through the cracks, especially after state officials recently claimed to have resolved a conflict between the voter registration system and the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Aaron Thacker, a spokesperson for Fontes, mentioned that the fix implemented by the MVD did not actually solve the issue. Furthermore, the Arizona Department of Transportation, which oversees the MVD, acknowledged a coding update but did not provide a timeline for its implementation.
In tight legislative races, even a small number of votes can sway the outcome, especially since Republicans hold a slim majority in both chambers. This year, voters will also weigh in on significant ballot measures, including one concerning the constitutional right to abortion and another focused on criminalizing illegal entry from Mexico.
Recently, the Arizona Supreme Court allowed the initial group of misclassified voters to cast full ballots, stating that their long-standing registration and sworn citizenship declarations shield them from disenfranchisement close to the November 5 election. Fontes believes this ruling should also encompass the newly identified voters, who represent a diverse mix of Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.