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Arizona's Voter Citizenship Tracking Error


Arizona is one of the few states that requires documentary proof of citizenship to vote. In 2024, the Secretary of State's Office announced it had failed to obtain citizenship proof for 200,000 longtime Arizona residents.

Two letters went out. One was a mistake. The other one explains how to ensure you can keep voting in state and local elections.

About 200,000 residents who were caught up in a state error will need to show their documents in order to keep voting a full ballot. Some are wondering why.

Two letters went out. One was a mistake. The other one explains how to ensure you can keep voting in state and local elections.

The voters were warned they would be moved to the inactive list if they didn’t respond. The Recorder’s Office said it was a printing error.

County residents affected by a state error will be able to vote in the coming congressional primary, but will have to provide documents to maintain their eligibility after that.

About 200,000 residents who were caught up in a state error will need to show their documents in order to keep voting a full ballot. Some are wondering why.

Proposed legislation would drop these longtime residents from the rolls if they don’t provide documents by 2026.

Critics say Secretary of State Adrian Fontes is more focused on fixing blame than helping counties straighten out their voter rolls.

The cause was a mix of policy choices and system errors.

Motor-vehicle agency labeled longtime residents as U.S. citizens, without obtaining proof. The state now says more than 218,000 voters are affected.

The error put the eligibility of nearly 100,000 voters in limbo. The court said it would be too late — and unfair — to limit their rights now.

The record checks are critical for determining which voters go on the ‘federal only’ rolls. The state will have to resolve the issue in court, with time running out.