Arizonans Shocked as Paperwork Errors Strike Voters Off Rolls Right Before Primary

Many Arizona residents attempting to register to vote ahead of Tuesday’s primary were blocked from the voter rolls due to issues with paper registration forms, according to a Votebeat analysis. The paper forms, often distributed by civic groups and political parties, have a history of inaccuracies. Problems include missing ID numbers, birthdates, signatures, or even bogus names. These deficiencies complicate county recorders’ work and may inadvertently disenfranchise some voters.

Votebeat’s data reveals the extent of the problem for the first time. In Maricopa County, about one-third of voters who tried to register via paper forms shortly before the July 1 deadline encountered issues. Statewide, approximately 24,000 residents had their registrations placed on hold by late July, including some already registered voters. For context, Joe Biden’s 2020 victory margin in Arizona was roughly 10,500 votes.

County officials lament the burden of processing faulty forms, which they are legally required to do. If they can’t contact the voter to correct errors, those voters may remain unaware of their ineligible status. Janine Petty, Maricopa County’s senior director of voter registration, stressed their mission aligns with registration groups but underscores the importance of legal compliance. The challenges extend to counties like Apache, where tribal land residents use landmarks instead of residential addresses, making voter pinpointing arduous.

Attempts to address the issue have been ongoing for over a decade. Republican lawmakers suggest new regulations for voter registration groups, including restrictions on paying workers per form submitted and mandatory disclaimers on third-party mailers. Democrats and civic groups counter with proposals for automatic voter registration and simpler reforms. Pinny Sheoran, president of the League of Women Voters of Arizona, advocates for better canvasser training over restrictive measures.

Most Arizonans register electronically, but paper forms flood in during the weeks leading up to registration deadlines, causing significant processing issues. For instance, Maricopa County received nearly 3,000 forms the week before the July primary deadline, but a third were blocked due to errors. Even already registered voters face potential issues if they submit duplicate or updated forms missing critical information.

Some organizations excel in form accuracy. Poder Latinx, a Latino civic engagement group, boasts a 92% success rate in voter registration, thanks to rigorous training for their field workers. Nancy Herrera, their Arizona state program director, emphasizes thorough guidance and weekly staff check-ins as key components of their success.

Efforts to mitigate registration form errors include county training programs for registration groups and proposals for automatic and same-day voter registration. However, staff shortages and high turnover challenge these initiatives. Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, Pima County Recorder, highlights the need for automatic registration, criticizing Republican resistance to the idea.

Fake names on forms compound the problem. Maricopa County’s Janine Petty reports receiving forms with names like “Mickey Mouse,” suspected to be submitted by paid circulators incentivized by quantity over quality. Republican State Sen. Ken Bennett introduced a bill to ban per-form payment, but it stalled in committee. Voting rights groups generally oppose new restrictions on registration groups, especially given similar state-level laws with harsh penalties.

Prefilled mailers exacerbate the confusion. Yavapai County Recorder Michelle Burchill notes issues with outdated, prefilled forms bearing incorrect information. State Sen. John Kavanagh’s proposed bill for third-party mail disclosure aimed to address this, but the problem persists, fostering voter distrust.

Confusion extends to non-citizens receiving seemingly official mailers, as highlighted by State Rep. Cesar Aguilar’s experience with his permanent resident father. Aguilar believes the legislature could eventually find a bipartisan solution to these pressing voter registration issues.

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.