Arizona Republican Accuses Secretary Fontes of Weakening Ballot Security

An Arizona state representative is sounding the alarm over what he says is a dangerous and unilateral move by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes that could compromise election security and the lawful votes of Arizonans serving overseas. On August 6, Secretary Fontes ordered counties to abandon the state’s secure, managed Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) ballot processing system and instead route ballots through a third-party platform operated solely by his office.

The change removes county oversight from the process, breaks established chain-of-custody procedures, and, according to Rep. John Gillette, opens the door for ballots from individuals with no connection to Arizona to be added into the state’s elections.

“UOCAVA exists to ensure that our deployed service members, their families, and Arizona residents living overseas can securely exercise their right to vote,” Gillette said. “It does not give voting rights to foreign nationals, illegal immigrants, or U.S. citizens with no prior Arizona residency. This directive is a reckless expansion of voting access beyond what the law allows.”

Gillette, who chairs the House Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections, warned that the directive undermines the clear intent of federal law and sidesteps the Arizona Election Procedures Manual. That manual requires public input and legislative oversight before making changes to the voting process. He also raised concerns that the order could lead to misuse of federal funds intended for legitimate UOCAVA services.

By removing counties from the equation, Gillette argued, the directive weakens ballot verification and tracking safeguards designed to prevent fraud. He also tied Fontes’ decision to a broader push by state Democrats to loosen voter eligibility requirements and centralize election authority in the Secretary of State’s office—moves Republicans in the Legislature blocked earlier this year.

“This is exactly the kind of partisan maneuver we fought to stop in the Legislature,” Gillette said. “The Secretary of State is attempting to change election law without the consent of the people’s representatives, and in the process, he’s jeopardizing the integrity of our elections.”

Gillette said he will be calling on the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to investigate the directive for possible violations of UOCAVA and the Voting Rights Act. He is also urging Congress and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to withhold federal UOCAVA funding until Arizona is back in compliance, and is demanding an immediate reversal of Fontes’ August 6 order to restore county control over the process.

“Our elections must protect lawful voters—especially our men and women serving overseas,” Gillette said. “They deserve a voting system that is secure, transparent, and faithful to the law, not one manipulated for partisan gain.”