The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Friday that about 100,000 residents can receive ballots without proof of citizenship, quickly resolving a clerical gaffe that had left in doubt whether they would be able to vote in this November's election.
Friday Verdict The announcement came days after election officials said they had found that about 98,000 state residents were registered to vote in local and state elections but had not provided proof of citizenship required to participate.
The Maricopa County Recorder's Office noticed a calculation error that marked these residents as eligible to vote in state, local and federal elections in Arizona without presenting citizenship documentation.
The state Supreme Court's decision on Friday handed a victory to Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and liberal groups in the Grand Canyon State.
“Today is a huge victory for people whose fundamental voting rights have been under scrutiny,” Fontes said. statement“The Court faced a stark choice: allow voters to participate in just a few federal elections on a limited ballot, or allow voters' opinions to be reflected in hundreds of decisions on a full ballot that includes a wide range of local and state offices.”
“We are deeply grateful to the Arizona Supreme Court for its swift and fair resolution,” he continued.
The court ruled that Arizonans could receive a “federal election only” ballot or a full ballot covering state and local elections. The state uses separate ballots because Arizona requires voters to show proof of citizenship before voting in local and state elections. This requirement does not apply to ballots for federal office.
“In any event, given these facts, we are not willing to wholesale deprive voters of participation in our state's elections. Doing so would be unauthorized under state law and would violate due process principles,” Supreme Court Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer wrote in the ruling.
Maricopa County Recorder Steven Richer, who filed the lawsuit Tuesday, welcomed the court's decision, even though he argued an initial error meant residents could only vote in federal elections.
“Thank God,” he said Friday night. post Regarding X. “Thank you, Arizona Supreme Court, for your very prompt and professional review of this case.”
