Fontes Faces Legal Action Over Withheld Voter Registration Data

By Matthew Holloway |

America First Legal (AFL) has initiated a lawsuit against Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, claiming he unlawfully withheld a list of over 218,000 individuals who registered to vote without proof of citizenship. This action is being taken on behalf of the Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona, also known as EZAZ.org.

The controversy began when Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer revealed that a significant number of voters lacked proof of citizenship due to a flaw in the coding of citizenship documentation. This prompted an Emergency Petition to the Arizona Supreme Court, leading to a ruling that permits nearly 98,000 affected voters to participate in upcoming elections.

AFL swiftly filed a public records request demanding the release of the voter list but faced rejection from Fontes. The Secretary’s response, conveyed through his attorney, raised eyebrows for its accusatory tone and unfounded claims about potential harassment of voters by EZAZ.org. AFL insisted there was no basis for these allegations and emphasized that their mission focuses on voter protection.

James Rogers, Senior Counsel for AFL, criticized Fontes’s handling of electoral concerns, stating, “There have been major failures in the administration of just about every general election in Arizona from 2016 until now.” He questioned how voters could trust a system administered by someone who opposes transparency and accountability. “The law requires Secretary Fontes to produce these records,” Rogers affirmed, indicating AFL’s commitment to ensuring compliance.

In their lawsuit, AFL argued that withholding these records undermines the fundamental objectives of the Public Records Law, which exists to ensure governmental transparency. They stressed that timely access to this information is critical, given its relevance to public concerns regarding electoral integrity.

The Secretary of State’s Office, in its letter of response, expressed fears that EZAZ.org’s intentions were not aligned with transparency but rather aimed at voter intimidation during an election cycle. However, former Senior Advisor to President Trump and AFL President Stephen Miller asserted that the organization is dedicated to safeguarding election integrity and stressed the importance of addressing potential threats from unlawful voting.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications for Arizona’s electoral landscape could be significant, potentially reshaping public trust and transparency within the state’s election processes.

Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.