Nearly 100,000 Arizona voters may have been incorrectly listed as eligible to vote in statewide elections, sparking concerns from state officials that this mistake could fuel Republican accusations of illegal voting. Gov. Katie Hobbs and her team worried that the discovery would “validate” claims that the state’s elections are insecure, according to a leaked phone call.
Arizona requires proof of citizenship for voters to participate in state elections, but voters who don’t provide such proof are allowed to vote only in federal elections. Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer uncovered the error when a noncitizen with a green card was found on the voter roll as a full-ballot voter. The mistake reportedly affected approximately 97,000 voters.
Hobbs voiced concerns about the political implications, saying that the error would “validate all of their theories about illegal voting,” even though she insisted these theories are “not true.” Attorney General Kris Mayes added that such a revelation could lead to calls for redoing the 2020 and 2022 elections.
Election watchdogs like the Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona have criticized the state’s handling of the issue. They argue that the Department of Homeland Security should have been asked to review the voter list and remove any ineligible voters.
The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that the voters will remain on the rolls for the upcoming election. However, with Arizona’s history of close races, the error could reignite debates over election security.
