Officials in Arizona have uncovered a significant flaw that allowed around 97,000 residents to vote in state and local elections without providing the required proof of citizenship. The Arizona Supreme Court has been asked to determine whether these individuals can still vote in the upcoming election without proof of citizenship or if they must provide it to be eligible to vote.
The flaw was discovered by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer’s office. It stems from a loophole in the law that allowed individuals with duplicate driver’s licenses issued before 1996, when proof of citizenship was not required, to be accepted as proof of citizenship in the voter registration database. This error has enabled nearly 97,688 voters to participate in state and local races for years without meeting the necessary legal requirements.
Richer has petitioned the Arizona Supreme Court to address this issue and ensure that affected voters are only allowed to participate in federal races until they provide proof of citizenship. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes believes that these voters should still be able to vote in November despite the lack of citizenship proof.
Governor Katie Hobbs has directed the Motor Vehicle Division to collaborate with the secretary of state’s office to rectify the problem and prevent additional ineligible voters from participating in state and local elections. Most of the affected voters are between 45 and 60 years old, with a majority residing in Maricopa County. The majority belong to the Republican party, although there are also significant numbers of independents and Democrats.
If the Arizona Supreme Court rules in favor of Richer, the affected residents will be notified and given the opportunity to provide proof of citizenship through an electronic portal being developed by the secretary of state’s office. This measure aims to ensure that only eligible voters participate in state and local elections in Arizona. Could you please rephrase that?
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