Welcome to our blog, where we bring you the latest news and updates on important issues happening around the country. Today, we’ll be discussing a recent data glitch involving 98,000 Arizona voters and the actions being taken to rectify the situation.
Recently, the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office discovered a 20-year glitch that affected 98,000 Arizona voters who failed to provide proof of citizenship. This glitch primarily impacted Arizona residents who obtained a driver’s license before October 1, 1996, and then registered to vote after 2004 when proof of citizenship became mandatory on voter registration forms.
The Arizona Motor Vehicle Department has now implemented a system where a code will be assigned to individuals who received a driver’s license before October 1, 1996. This code will alert the Secretary of State’s office that these voters may need to provide additional information, particularly their citizenship details.
Non-Citizen in Arizona Accidentally Registered to Vote
One of the individuals affected by this glitch is Luc Leemans, a non-citizen who has been living in Arizona for over 40 years on a green card sponsored by his U.S.-based company. Despite never intending to vote, Leemans renewed his driver’s license in 2021 and started receiving voting materials in the mail, leading to confusion and concern.
In an interview, Leemans expressed shock at discovering that he had erroneously attested to being a U.S. citizen on his voter registration form. After realizing the mistake, Leemans promptly deregistered to vote and emphasized the importance of accurate citizenship verification processes.
State Senator Priya Sundareshan of Tucson addressed the rarity of cases like Leemans’. She stressed the need for improved registration procedures, such as automatic registration through driver’s license applications, to prevent similar discrepancies in the future.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes’ Office has taken proactive steps to address the citizenship status of the affected voters. These actions include contacting federal agencies for citizenship verification, providing SAVE database records to County Recorders, and collaborating with various state agencies for assistance in verifying citizenship.
Despite the concern over non-citizens potentially voting, Senator Sundareshan believes that the consequences and deterrents in place minimize the risk of widespread unauthorized voting. The focus remains on resolving the data glitch and ensuring accurate voter registration processes moving forward.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story and other important issues affecting our community. Thank you for reading!
