Lawsuit Uncovers 1.2 Million Ineligible Voters Still on Arizona Voter Rolls

PHOENIX — A Florida-based organization, Citizen AG, has filed a lawsuit alleging that Arizona’s voter registration rolls contain approximately 1.2 million ineligible individuals. Their figures suggest that over 1.6 million registered voters failed to participate in the last two elections and did not respond to mandatory notices sent by election officials.

This lack of response could indicate that these voters are deceased or have relocated, according to the organization’s claims. Following the 2022 midterm elections, officials removed 432,498 names from the rolls, yet concern remains about the remaining 1.2 million voters.

The lawsuit seeks to compel U.S. District Court Judge Steven Logan to direct Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to provide public records regarding how voter registration is maintained. Citizen AG’s lawyers assert that this information is mandated by the National Voter Registration Act, but Fontes’ office allegedly responded that no relevant records exist.

Citizen AG is requesting not only the production of these records but also an immediate removal of individuals who failed to respond to confirmation notices and did not vote in the last two elections. Should removal not be feasible, the organization proposes that these voters be restricted to using provisional ballots, which are subject to further legal scrutiny.

A hearing on the matter is set for Friday morning, but responses from Fontes’ office have yet to be made public. Legal experts predict that any emergency relief request will likely face resistance, particularly due to the timing of the lawsuit and Citizen AG’s potential for earlier action.

Moreover, recent data shows that over two million Arizonans have already cast early ballots. If these have been validated, the specific identities behind the votes remain confidential, complicating any efforts linked to the lawsuit.

Integral to the case is the National Voter Registration Act, which mandates that Arizona maintain accurate voter registration lists by removing ineligible voters based on changes in residency. Notices are sent via forwardable mail to individuals with recorded address changes, and failure to respond places individuals on an “inactive” list. Without response and absence at the polls in the next two election cycles, names are to be purged from the voter rolls entirely.

Citizen AG made an information request on October 4, seeking data on voter history and inactive registered voters who have not reactivated their registrations. To date, no records have been provided, with responses indicating a lack of available documentation.

The lawsuit emphasizes that the National Voter Registration Act requires the maintenance and accessibility of records related to voter list activities for at least two years. While Citizen AG’s attorneys acknowledge the possibility that Fontes is fulfilling legal requirements, the lack of transparency leaves significant questions unanswered.

Details about Citizen AG remain scarce. No representatives returned requests for comment, and local attorney Alexander Kolodin refrained from discussing ongoing litigation. Their website mentions a citizen-led initiative encouraging voters to contest local voter rolls and their involvement in similar legal actions in Georgia.

Executive Director Mike Yoder has stated the organization’s mission revolves around empowering citizens and protecting freedoms against perceived government overreach, citing prior legal actions regarding vaccine mandates.