Maricopa County Voters Receive Incorrect Notices Due to Vendor Error
In a significant administrative mix-up, approximately 83,000 voters in Maricopa County received letters mistakenly indicating they could be placed on the inactive voter list. This group represents around 3% of the county’s voting population.
The letters were supposed to inform recipients about a state error requiring them to provide proof of citizenship. However, due to a mistake attributed to a third-party vendor, the letters incorrectly warned of impending inactive status unless the voters responded to the notice.
Votebeat journalist Jen Fifield first brought the issue to light on Thursday afternoon. Despite the early report, the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office delayed its response until after 5 p.m. on Friday.
The Recorder’s Office clarified that no voter records were affected and assured constituents that the vendor has accepted full responsibility. They have also initiated the process of mailing corrected letters at no additional cost to taxpayers. “This error was not caused by internal mistakes at the MCRO. The vendor has taken full responsibility for the mistake,” stated the office.
Local officials expressed their frustration over both the error and the delayed response from Recorder Justin Heap. Republican Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Thomas Galvin criticized the handling of the situation, questioning the timing of the response and the lack of immediate accountability. “Oh would you look at that, 5:04 p.m. And naturally, no apology from Justin Heap to the many anxious voters,” he commented later.
Echoing these concerns, Republican Supervisor Debbie Lesko highlighted the confusion faced by constituents who were mistakenly informed of their status change. Democratic Supervisor Steve Gallardo also voiced his dissatisfaction, noting that his office was overwhelmed with calls concerning the “election debacle.”
The original correspondence was intended to address a recently discovered glitch in the Motor Vehicle Division, impacting about 218,000 voters in Arizona. This issue wrongly recorded some individuals as having provided proof of citizenship when applying for a driver’s license. The error primarily affects those who obtained their licenses before October 1, 1996, prior to the state’s implementation of documentary proof of residence requirements.
For further details, visit KJZZ’s report on the ongoing efforts to ensure voter eligibility through citizenship verification.
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