Arizona elections error could affect eligibility of nearly 100,000 voters

Because of the state’s very close elections and status as a swing state, the issue will likely be the subject of intense scrutiny and litigation in coming weeks. Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP

Arizona’s top elections official said on Tuesday that a newly identified error in the state’s voter registration process needs to be swiftly resolved, as early ballots are set to go out to some voters as soon as this week.

Election staff in the Maricopa county recorder’s office identified an issue last week, which concerns voters with old driver’s licenses who may never have provided documentary proof of citizenship but were coded as having provided it and therefore were able to vote full ballots. The state has a bifurcated system in which voters who do not provide documentary proof of citizenship cannot vote in local or state elections, only federal ones.