By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services
The state’s top two elected Republicans are siding with Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes that nearly 100,000 Arizonans who haven’t provided proof of citizenship should be able to vote on all candidates – at least this year.
In new filings Sept. 18, at the Arizona Supreme Court, House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen acknowledge that a voter-approved law says those for whom there is no such evidence are not entitled to vote for candidates for state, legislative or local office, or for or against ballot measures. And they do not dispute the findings of Fontes that such proof is missing for the individuals at issue.
But attorney Thomas Basile said the error was not the fault of any of the voters at issue. In fact, he is telling the justices that they have been “affirmatively induced by government officials to believe they were qualified, full-ballot voters.”
