In a staunch display of defiance, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has clapped back at former President Donald Trump over his disparaging claims about mail-in voting. On a post published on the official website of the Arizona Secretary of State, Fontes branded Trump's comments on Truth Social, which call for the elimination of mail-in voting and accessible voting machines, as "false" and "inflammatory."
According to the Arizona Secretary of State, Fontes was clear to emphasize that the power to regulate elections lies not within federal purview but with the individual states, a mandate clearly demarcated by the U.S. Constitution. "Mail-in voting has been a cornerstone of secure and accessible elections in Arizona for years," he explained. "It was created by Republicans to help seniors, veterans, and rural voters — and it's supported across party lines because it works." Trump's rhetoric has been sharply criticized by Fontes, who pointed out that roughly 75% of Arizona voters have chosen to easily cast their early ballots by mail in the recent 2024 election.
The Arizona Secretary of State pointedly reminded the public that his allegiance did not align with the President's office but with the citizens of Arizona. "I do not work for the President. I work for Arizona," he stated. His words communicate a staunch resistance to what he views as a breach of constitutional rights, noting, "The U.S. was built by states, not ruled from the top down."
Fontes went a step further to categorically denounce the idea of altering the state's long-standing mail-in voting system for any individual's political agenda. "Abandoning this trusted system for one man's political ambitions is un-American, unconstitutional, and unacceptable," he declared, according to the Arizona Secretary of State. Aiming Trump's rhetoric directly, he argued that a move to silence votes or cancel elections would systematically undermine the democracy that underlies the nation's governance.
According to the Arizona Secretary of State, in his concluding remarks, Fontes called on leaders from both parties to take action, saying, "Now is not the time for silence," and emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of Arizona and the Constitution.
[Correction: President Trump currently holds office.]
