Arizona election officials have uncovered a significant flaw in the voter registration system that could disqualify nearly 100,000 voters from participating in state and local elections due to a clerical error regarding proof of citizenship. The issue stems from a glitch in the state's driver’s license database, affecting individuals who obtained their licenses before October 1, 1996, when the state began requiring proof of citizenship. While these voters can still cast ballots for federal offices, their eligibility for state races is in jeopardy, prompting officials to seek a resolution through the Arizona Supreme Court. The state's Secretary of State, Adrian Fontes, emphasized that this does not indicate any intention to undermine electoral integrity and that the situation is being treated as a simple clerical error. Nonpartisan experts have pointed out that illegal voting by noncitizens is exceedingly rare, contradicting claims made by some political figures. Officials are now racing against time to address the issue before early ballots are sent out.