Arizona is dealing with a voter registration crisis just before the upcoming election.

Arizona is facing a significant voter registration issue potentially affecting over 218,000 voters shortly before the upcoming election. The state’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) failed to verify proof of citizenship for thousands of voters, required for voting in state and local elections. This issue mostly impacts voters with driver’s licenses issued before 1996 when proof of citizenship wasn’t mandated.

Secretary of State Adrian Fontes disclosed the problem, which has grown from an initial estimate of 98,000 affected individuals to a shocking 218,000, including 79,000 Republicans. The discrepancy arose from a data coding error, falsely indicating that individuals had provided proof of citizenship when many had not.

🚨 MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD IN ARIZONA!

218,000 voters have been wrongly marked as having provided proof of citizenship due to an “error.”

These voters will STILL BE ABLE TO VOTE in the general election even though they didn’t give proof of citizenship. pic.twitter.com/QmAwfiIYxr

— Scott Adams (@scottadamsshow) October 1, 2024

Proposition 200, passed in 2004, mandates proof of citizenship for participating in state and local elections, excluding federal elections.

The Arizona GOP criticized Fontes for lack of transparency and timely solutions. AZGOP Chair Gina Swoboda accused Fontes of misinformation and demanded the immediate release of the SQL query used to identify affected voters. The party also insisted that county recorders handle the situation instead of the Secretary of State’s office, as they are authorized to process voter registration updates.

MASSIVE SCANDAL IN ARIZONA!

218,000 voters have been wrongly marked as having provided proof of citizenship due to an “error.”

These voters will STILL BE ABLE TO VOTE in the general election even though they didn’t give proof of citizenship.

This election fraud is disgraceful! pic.twitter.com/F2bh6TZReY

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) October 1, 2024

Despite concerns, Fontes assured impacted individuals they could vote in the upcoming election, even without resolved citizenship proof. His office works to rectify errors, and officials will contact affected voters post-election for necessary documentation submissions. Fontes defended election security, stating the errors shouldn’t hinder eligible voters from participation, given their legal affirmations of citizenship under penalty of perjury.

Court rulings allow impacted individuals to vote fully in state and local races despite coding mistakes. The Arizona GOP and citizens seek full transparency and swift resolution before election day to ensure voter roll integrity.

As Arizona approaches the general election, worries about voter integrity rise. This registration error may lead to more political conflicts, considering election security is a contentious issue in the state. Voter trust declines due to past fraud claims, worsening if not rapidly and transparently resolved.

With over 218,000 voters affected, Arizona election officials strive to fix errors before the high-stakes election. Whether proposed solutions calm voters or raise more concerns about the state’s election system remains uncertain. As the election nears, maintaining ballot box security and access is crucial.