The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Friday that nearly 98,000 voters whose citizenship documents were not confirmed will still be allowed to vote in state and local elections.
According to the AP, the decision follows the discovery of a database error that, for two decades, incorrectly designated these voters as eligible for the full ballot.
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The ruling came after a dispute between Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, and Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, a Republican, over the voting status of these individuals. Richer requested that the state’s highest court resolve the issue.
Arizona is unique in that it distinguishes between voters who are eligible only to participate in federal elections and those who can vote in federal, state, and local races. Voters wishing to vote in all three must submit proof of citizenship.
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In its decision, the court found that county officials do not have the authority to change the status of these voters because they registered many years ago and had sworn under penalty of law that they are U.S. citizens.
Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer wrote in the ruling, “We are unwilling on these facts to disenfranchise voters en masse from participating in state contests. Doing so is not authorized by state law and would violate principles of due process.”
The ruling ensures that these voters will remain eligible for state and local elections despite the citizenship documentation issue.
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