Fri Sep 20 11:45:51 UTC 2024: ## Arizona Republicans Join Democrats in Protecting Voting Rights Amid Citizenship Glitch

In a surprising turn of events, Arizona Republican leaders have sided with the state’s Democratic Secretary of State, Adrian Fontes, in a legal battle over a potential disenfranchisement of nearly 100,000 voters. The issue stems from a 20-year-old coding glitch that incorrectly marked voters as having proven their citizenship status.

This glitch potentially affects voters who obtained driver’s licenses before 1996 and then received duplicate licenses after 2004, when stricter voter registration requirements were implemented. Despite not having provided proof of citizenship, these voters were mistakenly marked as eligible for full ballots.

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, a Republican, sought to remove full ballot access for these voters, arguing they should receive federal-only ballots unless they provide proof of citizenship. This move, however, sparked concern among Republicans who pointed out that the affected voters are primarily older and likely lean Republican.

Republican leaders, including state party chair Gina Swoboda, Senate President Warren Petersen, and House Speaker Ben Toma, joined Fontes in urging the Arizona Supreme Court to uphold the current system and allow the affected voters to cast their ballots. They argued that depriving these voters of their right to vote, without clear evidence of their ineligibility, would violate federal protections and cause undue burdens on their right to vote.

Fontes also pointed out that changing the voting system so close to the election would lead to confusion and chaos, especially since ballots for military and overseas voters are set to be mailed this Saturday.

The Arizona Supreme Court is yet to issue a ruling, leaving the voting rights of these 97,000 Arizonans in limbo. Meanwhile, Fontes has instructed county recorders to make no changes and prepare for the possibility of verifying the citizenship status of affected voters after the election, if the court disagrees with his argument.

Read More