A recently leaked phone call involving Arizona’s top Democratic officials has exposed how they scrambled to control the narrative over a serious voter registration error that validated the citizenship of nearly 100,000 voters. In the call, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs expressed deep concern over how the error would play into claims of illegal voting in U.S. elections. “It’s going to validate all of their theories about illegal voting in our elections,” Hobbs reportedly said during the conversation, which was obtained by the Washington Post.
The call, which also included Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, came as the officials prepared to address the fallout from the error, which many feared would fuel calls for redoing both the 2020 and 2022 elections. Mayes admitted, “all of these elections are challengeable” due to the state’s failure to verify the citizenship status of thousands of voters.
The issue stems from an error within Arizona’s Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) system, which automatically validated voter registrations without confirming citizenship status. The problem wasn’t new, with a loophole allowing individuals with pre-1996 driver’s licenses—issued before proof of citizenship was required—to register to vote without further verification.
Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer did not inform the public until September 17, even though internal discussions had been taking place as early as September 6. This revelation has fueled accusations of a cover-up by Arizona Republicans, who have long pointed to Maricopa County as a source of election integrity issues.
During the call, Governor Hobbs described the situation as “urgent” and “dire,” while Mayes expressed concern over the political ramifications, particularly the likelihood that Republicans would accuse them of election fraud. The officials ultimately decided to pursue what they called a “friendly lawsuit,” aimed at reclassifying the affected voters as “federal only,” meaning they could not vote in state or local elections.
The incident has only added to the tension in Arizona, where election integrity remains a hotly debated issue following the 2020 presidential election. With the upcoming 2024 election approaching, this latest revelation could significantly impact how voters perceive the state’s handling of election security.
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