Arizona says even more voters are affected by MVD registration errors

The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office says the number of voters affected by a citizenship tracking error in the state’s motor vehicle database is larger than previously reported.

Officials announced Monday that an additional 120,000 people were affected by the error, which was discovered by election officials earlier this month. The news brings the total number of affected voters to around 218,000.

After a quick decision by the state’s highest court on September 20, they will have a full vote in the upcoming election. State election officials said the order applies to the newly expanded group of affected voters.

Affected voters — most of whom are elderly and longtime Arizona residents — swore under threat of criminal charges that they were U.S. citizens. Many have been on the voter lists for years.

But election officials cannot determine with absolute certainty whether the group’s members have handed over citizenship documents — and state law requires that those who have not proven their citizenship are barred from voting in state and local elections. Still, voters affected by the glitch have been eligible to participate in a full ballot in the past.

Affected voters will be required to prove their citizenship before voting in future state and local elections. That means county clerks across the state will have to figure out next steps for the group after the November general election.

Officials previously said they did not have time to conduct additional checks on all voters affected by the coding error in the narrowing window before the election. The ever-increasing number of those affected raises the question of how long it will take until voters’ eligibility to vote is determined.

It is also unclear why the number of affected voters is now growing and why the issue has not been taken up for years. The issue affects numerous administrations in the governor’s office, secretary of state’s office and record offices across the state. Both Republicans and Democrats have held these positions in the two decades since Arizona first required citizenship documents from new voters.

Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat who has pushed for more funding for election and voting systems, previously blamed the historic lack of resources for many state agencies. He reiterated that sentiment in a new statement on Monday.

“This issue is another example of why we must fund elections, update systems and staffing, and continue our time-tested tradition of safe, fair and secure elections,” Fontes said.

MVD officials did not respond to a call or email seeking comment.

Spokespeople for Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes declined requests for comment from Fontes’ office. The top three elected officials, all Democrats, have worked to present a unified front on the registration issue and its impact on voters.

But the state Republican Party chairwoman accused Fontes of shifting the scope of the problem, which she said could “destroy voter confidence.” Gina Swoboda said the rising number raises questions about why the coding error only came to light after 20 years, given that governments are supposed to conduct routine audits.

“Why should the public believe that this number is correct?” Swoboda said in a text message that the secretariat’s office now said the number of affected voters was now 218,000, up from 98,000 two weeks ago.

She said her office is still inquiring about the method for determining the number of voters affected.

Yolanda Bejarano, chairwoman of the Arizona Democratic Party, attended a town hall meeting in Santa Cruz County and could not immediately be reached for comment.

Who is affected?

Affected voters first received a driver’s license or ID card before 1996. So most of them are older. Many are between 45 and 60 years old.

The largest group of affected voters – about 36% – are Republicans. About 28% are Democrats and the remaining 35% are independents or third-party voters.

Voters live throughout Arizona, roughly in proportion to the state’s population centers and remote areas.

Officials have repeatedly said they believe the affected voters are citizens fully entitled to vote. The evidence overwhelmingly shows that non-citizen voting is rare. Non-citizens who attempt to vote risk fines and prison sentences. They could also risk being deported if they are in the country illegally or having their naturalization process hindered if they apply for citizenship.

Will there be more affected voters?

State elections officials said Monday they were continuing to work to “determine whether additional voters were affected” and “whether there were other similar errors” in the motor vehicle database.

“All authorities continue to work together in real time to resolve this matter,” the State Department said in a statement. “Arizona’s voter registration database has now correctly identified affected individuals as requiring proof of citizenship.”

Hobbs previously said she directed the Department of Motor Vehicles to fix the problem. She said she would “commission an independent audit to ensure MVD systems are functioning properly to support voter registration.”

The secretary of state’s office promised Monday to “keep the public informed of developments if and when we have accurate, verified information to share.”

Challenges are expected for the election outcome. Fontes’ office has hired outside counsel because it expects the registration issue to lead to lawsuits after the Nov. 5 election. An outside consultant was necessary because the AG’s office represents both the governor’s office and MVD, an agency division overseen by the governor.

What are the next steps for concerned voters?

Local election officials say they are awaiting further guidance from the Secretary of State’s office to determine next steps for affected voters.

“Our office is proud to have brought these coding lapses to the attention of the Secretary of State’s office,” said Stephen Richer, a Republican from Maricopa County. “But moving forward, Maricopa County and all other counties await further clarification from the SOS as we await the results of their investigation.”

As the number of affected voters has more than doubled statewide, officials in several counties told The Arizona Republic on Monday that they expect their offices may need more time and work to address questions about voters’ eligibility before future elections clear up.

How can I tell if I am affected?

Voters with licenses that meet “Real ID” requirements are not included in the affected voter group. To obtain these licenses, authorized by the Real ID Act in 2005, Arizona residents must provide documentary proof of citizenship.

Additionally, officials previously said there is no way to determine whether you are among the group of voters affected by the coding error. They have pledged to contact affected voters as quickly as possible on next steps.

Arizona voters can check their registration status at any time through the state’s voter information portal.

Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for the Arizona Republic. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on X: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps. Subscribe to her weekly election newsletter, Republic Recount.

This story has been updated to add new information.

Arizona says even more voters are affected by MVD registration errors

ByJasper

Who is affected?

Will there be more affected voters?

What are the next steps for concerned voters?

How can I tell if I am affected?

By Jasper

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