Phoenix — Editor's note: An earlier video version of this article incorrectly stated the consequences for noncitizens registering to vote. When someone registers to vote, they must verify their U.S. citizenship under penalty of perjury.

Noncitizens with green cards who have lived in Arizona for decades have come forward to express their confusion at suddenly being registered to vote after renewing their driver's licenses.

The man's decision comes after the Maricopa County Recorder's Office discovered last week that 98,000 voters had provided proof of citizenship when registering but were not reported due to a 20-year-old computer coding error. I'm raising my voice. The man is concerned that more non-citizens may be registering to vote.

The Arizona Secretary of State's Office said most of the voters affected by the error were older, thinner Republicans. All received driver's licenses issued before 1996. Describe the problem in one page.

RELATED: Court rules nearly 98,000 Arizonans whose citizenship has not been verified can vote in full

Lehmans, 69, said he renewed his license online through the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles in 2021, when he turned 65. He came to Arizona in the 1980s on a green card sponsored by his Belgium-based company. After a few years, he moved to the US-based company that now sponsors him.

After renewing his license, he received several strange items in the mail, leading him to believe he was now a registered voter.

These items include a voter ID card with ID numbers and two voter education guides with candidate lists that will be mailed to you, one for the 2022 election and one for the 2024 election. (for elections) was included.

The date of issue of his voter ID card is the same as the date his new driver's license was issued. He immediately contacted election officials.

“I specified that I was a U.S. resident, not a citizen, and that I was receiving a voter ID card, but I don't think that was incorrect,” Lehmans said.

In an email provided by Lehmans, he attempted to tell election officials that he was eligible to vote in 2022 shortly after receiving the first batch of voter materials. He contacted the Maricopa County Recorder's Office again last month to say he was concerned because he had never actively registered to vote and continued to receive voting materials.

“From a personal standpoint, I wasn't worried about it. Okay, you know, I didn't vote and I did my best to unregister,” Lehmans said. , talked about trying to get him unregistered to vote.

Tammy Patrick, former federal compliance director for the Maricopa County Elections Department, said the Lehmans may have registered to vote by mistakenly checking “yes” on the U.S. citizenship question.

“People often forget when they pull out a form with their handwritten signature,” Patrick said of his experience with voter memory. Voters know exactly what the deal they're getting into. ”

Lehmans said he would not have checked “yes” to any kind of citizenship question.

“I have never, never, ever claimed to be an American citizen,” Lehmans said.

However, documents provided to 12News after the story aired showed that the box confirming citizenship on Lehman's application was checked.

RELATED: Arizona MVD creates code for voters who may be affected by data glitch to help identify voters

12News began asking Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer's office a series of questions last week, Sept. 19, including:

• Was Luc Leemans the one who alerted the Maricopa County Recorder's Office (MCRO) to the MVD coding error?
• Lehmans claims he first alerted MCRO that he was mistakenly registered to vote in 2022, but did their records show this? If so, why didn't he get a reply?
• Does MCRO know how Mr. Lehmans was registered to vote after renewing his driver's license? How does this work?
• Does MCRO know how many other noncitizens may be incorrectly registered to vote?

A spokesperson said the company could not comment until an investigation into the coding error was completed.

12 News asked Patrick whether it was worth election officials' time to investigate how the Lehmans registered to vote.

“Well, I think it really makes sense to double-check and see how it was set up and whether it's just carrying over all the old information or if it's automatically filling in the information.” I don't know exactly if it's set up in any way, and that's what I want to understand,” Patrick said.

12News filed a records request for Lehmans' voter records on the night of Sept. 18. It typically takes 1-2 business days for the Recorder's Office to process this request. The Recorder's Office fulfilled the records request on September 25, the morning after the story aired.

Mr. Lehmans also requested his records directly and received them on the 25th as well.

Perhaps something good will come from this, Lehmans said. He still wonders how he was able to become a registered voter without providing proof of citizenship.

“What if something illegal happened as a result of this? So I'm glad I did this,” Lehmans said of coming forward with her story.

12News also asked the Department of Motor Vehicles to explain the voter registration process. A spokesperson issued the following statement:

The Secretary of State's Office and the Governor's Office detailed the situation and the steps taken to resolve it. MVD and SOS jointly provide certain information within the data provided to SOS for those whose license or ID was created before October 1, 1996 and who have not provided additional documentation thereafter. We agreed to create a flag. I respectfully decline the opportunity to discuss this matter on camera. Questions regarding specific individuals and voter registration should be directed to SOS.

12 News continues to ask the Recorder's Office, Secretary of State's Office and the Department of Motor Vehicles how the Rehmans and other affected voters were able to register without proof of citizenship.

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