Arizona Supreme Court Allows Full Ballots for 98,000 Voters

The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that nearly 98,000 voters affected by a citizenship documentation error can vote on a full ballot in the upcoming November election. This decision overturns earlier attempts by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer to limit these voters to federal-only ballots due to a flaw in the voter registration system that has existed since 2004. The court emphasized that there was no evidence indicating the affected voters were not U.S. citizens and that disenfranchising them would violate due process principles. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes celebrated the ruling, while Richer acknowledged the court's quick resolution. The ruling comes as state election officials scramble to address the implications of the error and ensure citizenship verification for future elections. The impacted voters are predominantly older, with a significant number registered as Republicans, followed by independents and Democrats.