The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that nearly 100,000 voters affected by a citizenship tracking error will be allowed to vote a full ballot in November. The error, caused by a coding glitch in the state’s motor vehicle database, may have disenfranchised voters and impacted down-ballot races. Arizona uniquely requires voters to provide proof of citizenship to participate in elections. The court determined that the issue was discovered too close to the election to change voters’ eligibility. Affected voters will need to prove their citizenship for future elections. Officials are working to identify and assist impacted voters, and are considering using federal tools to verify citizenship. The error occurred due to the way the Motor Vehicle Division updated license issuance dates, allowing some voters to be incorrectly registered. The impacted voters are mostly older individuals who obtained licenses before 1996. The group includes Republicans, Democrats, and independents from all over Arizona. There is currently no way for voters to know if they are among those affected, but officials have pledged to reach out with next steps. The court’s decision has brought relief to election officials and ensures that impacted voters can participate in the upcoming election.
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