Fontes Under Fire for Opaque Handling of MVD Database Blunder

By Daniel Stefanski |

Arizona lawmakers are confronting Secretary of State Adrian Fontes regarding a significant transparency issue linked to a growing database error affecting voter registrations.

Recently, a group of Republican legislators released a statement criticizing Fontes for his handling of Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) database errors, which now involve 218,000 voters instead of the previously reported 98,000.

Fontes acknowledged that an additional 120,000 voters have been identified due to the inclusion of renewed and reinstated licenses in the MVD data, raising concerns about documentation for voter registration requirements. He emphasized that all affected individuals remain eligible voters and have attested to their U.S. citizenship under penalty of perjury.

The Secretary of State’s Office plans to communicate with those impacted and provide guidance on resolving any documentation issues. However, this assistance won’t be available before the upcoming 2024 election, raising alarms among lawmakers.

The Republican legislators expressed concerns over Fontes’ assurances, pledging to monitor the situation closely. They stated, “We are committed to ensuring compliance with Arizona’s proof-of-citizenship laws during and after the election.” Earlier this year, House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen championed the importance of voting credentials in a legal battle that reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

In their statement, they reiterated the necessity of requiring proof of citizenship for eligible voters and underscored the need for election officials to uphold their duties without infringing on citizens’ rights to due process.

Signatories of the statement include prominent Arizona State Representatives such as Ben Toma, David Marshall Sr, and Leo Biasiucci, among others.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.