Approximately 100,000 registered voters in Arizona find their eligibility in question due to a significant error within the state’s voter registration systems, as announced by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes on Tuesday. This issue surfaced just before the planned distribution of mail ballots.

The crux of the problem lies in the state’s misclassification of voters who registered, indicating they had already provided proof of U.S. citizenship. Fontes clarified that this assumption is uncertain, raising concerns about compliance with Arizona’s 2005 law mandating citizenship verification for voting in state and local elections.

This error primarily affects individuals who acquired their Arizona driver’s licenses before October 1996 and subsequently registered to vote after receiving a duplicate license following that date. The Motor Vehicle Division’s method of sharing driver’s license data with the voter registration system has inadvertently created this situation.

As it stands, if these voters fail to present valid proof of citizenship, they would be categorized as “federal only” voters, limiting their ability to participate in elections beyond federal offices.

Fontes expressed concern over the prolonged nature of this oversight, which persisted through four consecutive administrations. While the exact reason this error remained unnoticed for so long is unclear, it has raised alarms among Arizona officials.

Governor Katie Hobbs has directed the Motor Vehicle Division to rectify these discrepancies and has initiated an independent audit to verify the integrity of the systems supporting voter registration. The discovery of this problem stems from a Maricopa County clerk, who identified an individual listed as a full-ballot voter despite lacking proof of citizenship.

In light of increasing Republican allegations regarding noncitizens voting, the incident has garnered additional scrutiny. Despite the claims, experts emphasize that instances of noncitizen voting are exceedingly rare. Federal law requires registrants to declare their citizenship status, albeit without needing documented proof.

In response to the allegations, congressional Republicans are advocating for legislation that would introduce mandatory documented proof of citizenship for voters in federal elections, similar to Arizona’s requirements for state elections.

The state of Arizona faces urgency in addressing this oversight, as ballots for military and overseas voters must be dispatched soon. Maricopa County plans to file a lawsuit in the Arizona Supreme Court, seeking a prompt decision that would allow voters whose records are ambiguous to vote in federal races only.

Fontes reiterated his commitment to preserving the current voting status for these individuals, indicating that a majority of those affected are predominantly Republican and within the age range of 45 to 60.

The underlying complications originated from the Motor Vehicle Division’s approach in documenting driver’s licenses for the voter registration rolls. Notably, individuals who secured a regular driver’s license before October 1996 are now faced with the consequences of an outdated registration system.

As Arizona navigates these challenges ahead of the approaching presidential election, the focus remains on resolving voter eligibility disputes to ensure a fair electoral process.