In a significant decision that could impact ballot measures and legislative races, the Arizona Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that nearly 98,000 people whose citizenship documents had not been confirmed can vote in state and local races. The ruling stemmed from a database error that mistakenly labeled the voters as having full access to the ballot for the past two decades. Despite being already eligible to participate in federal races, including those for President and Congress, the affected voters' eligibility for state and local contests was widely debated between state officials.

Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Maricopa County recorder Stephen Richer were at odds over the status of these voters. While Richer contended that Fontes had disregarded state law by allowing the voters to cast full ballots, Fontes argued that denying them access would raise concerns of equal protection and due process. After seeking the court's intervention, the high court sided with Fontes, emphasizing that the affected voters had registered long ago under the belief they had met all requirements, forcing county officials to maintain their statuses.

The impacted voters, primarily residing in Maricopa County and ranging between 45 to 60 years old, represent a mix of political affiliations, with approximately 37 percent registered as Republicans, 27 percent as Democrats, and the remainder as independents or affiliated with minor parties. Arizona's requirement for voters to prove their citizenship stands out among states; acceptable proof includes a driver's license issued after October 1996, a tribal ID number, or documentation like a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers. The error, initially a discrepancy between the voter registration database and the Motor Vehicle Division, affected around 2.5 percent of all registered voters, a significant number that could sway closely contested races for the state Legislature.