Secretary of State Adrian Fontes delivered a criminal referral to Attorney General Kris Mayes on account of a Wisconsin man illegally disseminating Arizona voter registration information online. The individual reportedly obtained this data through a public record request but flouted A.R.S. § 16-168(F) by posting it on the internet, a move that violates the laws protecting such sensitive information.
Amid growing concerns over election security, Fontes has voiced his administration's uncompromising stance, "Voter data is sensitive and personal. While it is a public record, those who request and obtain it must adhere to the statutory restrictions on its use. We take mishandling of voter information very seriously," according to a statement on the Secretary of State's official website. The incident has raised alarms, signaling a clear warning to those aiming to undermine electoral integrity through illicit handling of voter data.
Those requesting voter records are routinely briefed on the dos and don'ts concerning their use, which includes the strict injunction against internet posting. Despite this, the Wisconsin man’s post was a flagrant defiance of protocol. "The threat environment around elections today is complex, and this was a deliberate act to expose Arizona voters to potential bad actors on the internet. It is illegal, and it won’t be tolerated," Fontes emphasized in the press release.
"Let this be a warning," Fontes continued, demonstrating his firm resolve to combat voter and election worker exploitation. "Bad actors who participate in unlawful acts aimed at voters and election workers will experience accountability for their actions through the discomfort of due process. I promise that," as stated in the press release. His administration, through actions such as this referral, shows a strong commitment to maintaining the integrity of fair and secure elections.
The responsibility for investigating and prosecuting such matters resides with the Attorney General's office, which has now been duly engaged to address this breach of voter privacy. Fontes’ decisive response to this incident reaffirms the Arizona Secretary of State’s office's dedication to ensuring the right to vote is protected from such unwarranted exposures and manipulations.
