Fontes Fixes Flaws in Arizona’s Green Party Primary Results

The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office has revised its primary election results, revealing errors in identifying which Green Party candidates would advance to the November elections. The mistakes impacted seven races within the Green Party.

A spokesperson for the office attributed these inaccuracies to an outdated electronic reporting system that was unable to accurately recognize winners, as well as to a strained staff that overlooked the errors during proofreading. Communications Director Aaron Thacker emphasized the need for enhanced personnel and technological resources, urging state and federal legislatures to take action.

After correcting the discrepancies, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes recertified the election results on Friday. The initial canvass had incorrectly designated the winner of the Green Party’s U.S. Senate primary, bypassing write-in candidate Eduardo Quintana, who had secured the highest vote total. Furthermore, seven other write-in candidates in six Green Party races were not recognized as advancing to the general election.

The errors stemmed from a miscalculation regarding the voting threshold required for write-in candidates from newly recognized parties like the Green Party, which does not yet have a permanent position on the ballot. In contrast, established parties have specific vote requirements that must be met for write-in candidates to qualify for the general election.

Thacker noted that the state elections office was notified of these issues by the Green Party following the initial canvass’s finalization. The situation garnered attention from KJZZ, though representatives from the Green Party and Quintana did not respond to inquiries for comment.

Established last year, the Green Party is still navigating its status, leading to confusion surrounding voting requirements. Thacker explained that the office’s electronic system failed to properly account for the distinctions between new and established parties, highlighting a significant oversight in a system that has not adapted to recent changes in party status.

Despite having a longstanding presence, the Green Party’s recent recognition has caused ambiguity regarding its classification. Thacker remarked, “No one recognized that status change at first because the Green Party has been around for so long, unlike a new party like the No Labels Party.”

The proofreading process undertaken by the office is comprised of multiple checks and balances. However, given the overwhelming demands faced by staff reviewing an unprecedented number of petition signatures for November initiatives, errors were inevitably overlooked.

To prevent future issues, Thacker announced plans to seek additional staff and modern technology in the upcoming budget proposal. The office also intends to enhance training and develop more robust systems to minimize human error in election processes.