WASHINGTON – Arizona election officials gave the assurance Wednesday, a day after asking the Arizona Supreme Court for guidance on what to do about 98,000 registered voters who have never proven their U.S. citizenship.

They say there is no evidence of widespread voting by non-state residents, a glitch related to driver's licenses issued before the state began requiring proof of citizenship.

“The voters themselves didn't do anything wrong in any way,” Steven Richer said. Maricopa County RecorderHe made the remarks in Washington after a McCain Institute forum on elections and disinformation.

But, he added, “This issue is real and it's unfortunate that we have to deal with it.”

Former President Donald Trump cited the glitch on Tuesday, sparking a new conspiracy theory, alleging voter fraud in Arizona after he lost the 2020 election by about 10,000 votes.

“They're trying to rig the election!” Post to the real social platforms.

His Republican colleague, Mr. Richer, denied the allegations.

“We recognize that fear,” he said, adding, “President Trump is making comments that have no basis in reality what is happening. We will work to explain to as many voters as possible exactly what is going on.”

Tuesday, Richar Lawsuit filed Secretary of State Adrian FontesThe Democrat is asking the state's Supreme Court to decide whether those voters can fully participate in the November election.

Fontes calls it “Friendly“Lawsuit. He and Richer filed a joint motion pointing out the issues.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes appears at a U.S. Senate hearing on threats against election workers on Oct. 31, 2023. (File photo by Lux Butler/Cronkite News)

Since 2004, the state Proof of citizenship required The right to vote in state and local elections. Voters may vote in federal elections (presidential, senate, and house of representatives) by proving they are citizens without showing proof.

Officials said most people with driver's licenses issued after October 1996 were affected because they used birth certificates or other documents proving citizenship to meet new requirements to show they were in the country legally.

Last week, Richer's office discovered that foreign nationals were on the registered voter rolls even though they had not actually voted.

He reported the issue to the secretary of state's office, and by Tuesday, officials had identified about 98,000 registered voters statewide who had not proven their citizenship.

Most of them are almost certainly U.S. citizens, Fontes said.

“This is basic voter roll management and it tells us that this problem exists and rather than just ignoring it and not addressing it, we are addressing it so that people can continue to have confidence in us running Arizona's elections,” Fontes said at a news conference in Phoenix on Tuesday.

Fontes wants to ensure those voters have a say in elections at all levels of government in November. Viewpoint Their aim is that unless they meet a proof of citizenship requirement, they should only be allowed to vote in federal elections.

They are jointly asking the Arizona Supreme Court to decide that.

Fontes promised to set up an electronic portal, if necessary, to make it easier for registered voters to submit documents.

This coding error is Repaired” he said.

Fontes estimated that affected voters are spread across the state in proportion to the total population, meaning about 60% are in Maricopa County.