The roughly 200,000-voter citizenship-record problem
In 2024–25, Arizona officials discovered that approximately 200,000 voters had been incorrectly classified as having provided documentary proof of citizenship because of problems connecting voter-registration and driver's-license records. Why it was controversial: These voters—many of whom had voted for years—were suddenly being asked to provide citizenship documentation to remain eligible for the full ballot. Critics argued that the state's election-registration system had failed and questioned Fontes' administration of voter rolls.
VOTE FOR ALEXANDER KOLODIN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE
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MAKES HIS OWN LAWS!
One of the biggest legal disputes involved Fontes' 2023 Elections Procedures Manual (EPM). A Maricopa County judge ruled that Fontes had exceeded his authority by including provisions allowing the state canvass to proceed even if a county failed to certify its results. The court invalidated those provisions.
Why it was controversial: Republicans argued that Fontes was effectively changing election law without legislative authorization.
