Arizona officials are working to address systemic errors that enabled thousands of noncitizens to vote in local and state elections. The issue traces back to inaccuracies in the state’s motor vehicle database, which misclassified some residents as eligible voters.
The problem primarily involves individuals who registered using driver’s licenses issued before 1996. Arizona law mandates proof of citizenship for state and local races, but errors in the database allowed some to bypass this requirement. The issue was flagged as early as 2017 under Gov. Doug Ducey (R-AZ) and Secretary of State Michele Reagan but remained unresolved.
“This is an MVD issue,” current Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said, referencing the Motor Vehicle Division’s role in maintaining accurate records. Fontes highlighted the broader implications of the errors, noting their potential impact on other state benefits that rely on MVD data.
Arizona’s dual-registration system requires proof of citizenship for full ballots, while those without such documentation receive federal-only ballots. Despite this system, errors led to thousands of noncitizens receiving full ballots over the years.
The review has revealed cases where noncitizens were mistakenly sent ballots, including one flagged during Katie Hobbs’ tenure as secretary of state. Fontes’ office estimates that 218,000 individuals were affected and plans to launch an online tool for voters to update their records before municipal elections in 2025.
State officials are also examining how these errors may have impacted other programs dependent on MVD data accuracy.
