In a major development, a leaked conversation between top Arizona Democratic officials has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of the state's electoral process. The leaked call, reportedly from September 10, revealed a discussion between Governor Katie Hobbs, Attorney General Kris Mayes, and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes about covering up a significant voter registration glitch that affected nearly 100,000 voters.
The voter registration error was traced back to a loophole in the Arizona Motor Vehicle Department's system. This glitch allowed voters who obtained driver’s licenses before 1996 to register without proving their citizenship. This issue, which had persisted for two decades, resurfaced just before the 2020 and 2022 elections, leading many to question the integrity of those electoral results.
Good Lord! ~ ~ Leaked conversation between Arizona’s Democrat Gov, Attorney General, and Secretary of State reveals attempt to cover up 98,000 voter registration glitch – officials worried about calls for new 2020 and 2022 elections https://t.co/bG9pH4K1Hv pic.twitter.com/jgaHuEnuaw
— Mary (@matjendav4) September 30, 2024
Governor Hobbs described the situation as "urgent" and "dire" during the 40-minute call, where officials expressed concern about the potential backlash. According to leaked excerpts, Hobbs acknowledged that this error would fuel accusations of illegal voting, stating, "This is going to have conspiracy theorists re-litigating the last three elections, at least in Arizona." Attorney General Mayes also voiced concerns that this glitch could undermine the legitimacy of future elections and result in a flood of legal challenges. She warned, “All of these elections are challengeable now.”
The leaked conversation has reignited calls from election integrity watchdog groups for a comprehensive audit and investigation of the 2020 and 2022 election outcomes. Republican critics argue that the glitch disproportionately affected their voters, many of whom may have held driver's licenses from before 1996. Secretary of State Fontes suggested that a "friendly lawsuit" could be filed to manage the fallout, a move critics have slammed as an attempt to whitewash the issue through legal maneuvering.
BREAKING: ARIZONA DEMOCRAT COVER-UP!
Leaked Conversation Between Arizona’s Dem Governor, Attorney General, & Secretary Of State Reveals ATTEMPT TO COVER UP A 98,000 VOTER REGISTRATION GLITCH!
They Worried Voters Would Call For New 2020 & 2022 Elections!https://t.co/JdnPVOuSNL— John Basham (@JohnBasham) September 30, 2024
In fact, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, who initially announced the glitch to the public on September 17, filed the lawsuit that requested voters impacted by the registration error be classified as "federal-only" voters. Under Arizona law, federal-only voters are restricted from participating in local elections unless they provide proof of citizenship. This prompted further accusations of disenfranchisement and partisan bias, as many of the affected voters were reportedly Republicans.
The fallout from the call has been immediate, with numerous conservative groups demanding accountability and even calling for new elections. Some have filed lawsuits in an effort to force a judicial review of the glitch and its potential impact on the election results. Legal experts argue that, depending on the size and scope of the registration error, these lawsuits could challenge the legitimacy of the elections, with Hans von Spakovsky, an election law expert, noting that the courts may be compelled to determine if the error invalidates public trust in the process.
This scandal has only further polarized Arizona's already contentious political landscape. Political consultant Brett Johnson remarked, “This will have ripple effects on the upcoming elections,” stressing that this controversy may lead to nationwide reforms in voter registration systems.
For now, Arizona’s electoral system remains under intense scrutiny, as both local and national observers await the next legal and political steps. Election officials have promised an internal investigation, but the damage to public confidence may already be done.
