Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes is being accused of overstepping his authority by meddling in the process for handling ballots from military and overseas voters. Now, Pinal County Recorder Dana Lewis is sounding the alarm over the changes made at the Secretary of State’s Office.
According to Lewis, these changes, designed to prevent new questions regarding the integrity of elections, are instead raising new ones, even as Arizona County Recorders and election officials continue working to restore public confidence in the election process.
Despite the fact that many County Recorders requested the move to be delayed, the Secretary of State’s Office has removed the Arizona Voter Information Database module from the process used to verify and receive Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) ballots—those cast by military, dependents, and overseas American voters.
Lewis says this decision forces counties to use a third-party platform that:
- Allowed a third-party vendor access to voter information data without review;
- Does not maintain an auditable connection between the ballot and the voter;
- Limits the ability of election officials to maintain the chain of custody between departments;
- Equipment that requires internet connectivity to function fully as intended;
- Is currently incompatible with the current policies, procedures, equipment and systems used by some counties; and
- Implementation was forced without a suitable testing environment.
“This change removes a layer of security and transparency that Arizona voters, especially those serving overseas, deserve,” said Lewis, an Air Force veteran. “Counties are being asked to hastily implement a system they are not equipped for, that operates outside the traditional chain of custody, and that introduces questions about traceability and oversight.”
“Once again, Secretary Fontes is creating chaos and confusion in the midst of an election,” said attorney Jen Wright, one of Arizona’s top election experts told the Arizona Daily Independent. “His antics are why voters have lost confidence in Arizona elections. Despite the legal mandate that county recorders process UOCAVA ballots, Fontes has usurped the counties’ statutory authority and has created new policies and procedures outside of the legislatively sanctioned EPM (Election Procedures Manual) process. Courts have issued an injunction against Fontes’ rogue actions while an election is underway in the past, they can do it again.”
In contrast to Fontes’ top-down decision, some counties, such as Pinal, have taken significant steps to increase transparency and rebuild voter trust through public tours, live-streamed video of processes from early ballot receipt through tabulation, and open-door policies for election observation.
“There’s no question that technology can improve elections,” said Recorder Lewis. “But implementation matters. We need tools and resources that enhance trust, not undermine it, within a logical timeline to ensure functionality and allow communication with our voters of the upcoming change mandated by the Arizona Secretary of State.”
Election officials across Arizona have urged the Secretary of State to delay this rollout and work collaboratively with counties to ensure that any new system protects both voter privacy and the integrity of the vote. However, as of 8:00 PM on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, Secretary Fontes had forced their hand and removed the UOCAVA module from the Arizona Voter Information Database.
“We have worked very hard in Pinal County to earn and keep the trust of the voters,” concluded Lewis. “Every voter in Arizona needs and deserves to know what is happening to the electoral process.”
Because the UOCAVA process has been the source of considerable controversy and distrust in the nation’s elections, Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) introduced legislation, the Proving Residency for Overseas Voter Eligibility (PROVE) Act last week.
Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02) and Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) are original cosponsors of Hamadeh’s legislation.
The purpose of the PROVE Act is to amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to require non-military overseas citizens to prove their current residency in a state they in which they are attempting to vote.
If they are unable to prove a current resident status by either themselves, their spouse, parent, or legal guardian, U.S. citizens may still vote a federal ballot only in the District of Columbia.
Currently, under UOCAVA, states are forced to let U.S. citizens living overseas to vote in federal elections based on their last state residence. In many cases, those claiming resident status in a state have not been in that state, nor do they have any ties to it, undermining election integrity.
Even more shockingly, 39 states permit individuals who have never resided in the United States to cast ballots in our state elections. This policy applies in several crucial swing states who often decide presidential elections, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
“The loophole in UOCAVA allows citizens living overseas, with no current ties to a state, to arbitrarily choose where their vote counts. This threatens electoral integrity and is an affront to everyone who believes in fair and free elections,” stated Hamadeh. “The PROVE Act will close this loophole and go far to restore trust in our elections.”
“In Arizona, we have seen what the mismanagement of voter rolls, failed election infrastructure, and corrupt courts can do to destroy voter confidence and faith in our system overall. Since taking office, I have introduced legislation to address some of the most egregious practices and close the most glaring loopholes in our election system,” stated Hamadeh.
“I call on my colleagues to join me and support the PROVE Act so that we can rebuild citizens’ trust in our elections through comprehensive and meaningful election integrity legislation,” said Hamadeh.
The PROVE Act changes who can vote from overseas; Enhanced Voting changes how Arizona processes those ballots. One is federal eligibility legislation, the other is a state technology upgrade—they’re unrelated, and claiming otherwise is pure political spin. . Hamadeh is seizing the moment to link it to his PROVE Act, even though the two address entirely different things. By doing this, he can ride the wave of public concern over Fontes’ actions, position himself as the “fixer,” and draw attention to his own legislation. Hamadeh’s bill and Font’s “Enhanced Voting” upgrade are COMPLETELY UNRELATED. Hamadeh once again proves himself to be a political charlatan, seeking only to advance his own career with no thought or consideration to helping the constituents he’s supposed to be representing.
Elections have consequences. The ignorant majority elected Fontes who will then solidify the position of the Democrats. It will assure D win no matter what. This is the last phase of making sure that AZ remains a blue state.
Evidence is mounting that the elections were rigged, so voters didn’t necessarily elect this creep, as they certainly didn’t Hobbs. It’s pitchfork time fellow citizens.
Ok where is the states supreme court on this?
Backing or just backing away. Everything goes
To usc so what are our clowns doing, also where
are the politicians who supposedly set the laws
not the corrupt gov and this guy. If the pols
had a backbone they would impeach this guy
but i guess they are only the to be posers
Not law makers
Fontes is nothing but a corrupt crooked pos. Mayes is no different.
Fontes is a criminal. He needs to be arrested and charged for Treason.
Well, they have to figure some way to cheat. What’s better than funneling votes through an unaccountable 3rd party?
It’s clear that Fontes’ life purpose is to muddy up the state election process to benefit his political party, much like our esteemed Attorney General Mayes has dedicated her illegitimate term in office to pursue her obvious hatred for anyone or anything named Trump. Hopefully these two cretins will forever disappear from the public eye thanks to sane voters after the next general election cycle.
Evidence is mounting that the elections were rigged, so voters didn’t necessarily elect this creep, as they certainly didn’t Hobbs. It’s pitchfork time fellow citizens.
Everything Fontes does is about rigging elections. This is his primary objective.
Dems know AZ is a deep red state and the existence depends on rigged elections.
There is absolutely no sign or indication that AZ is a deep red state. It turned Blue when Sinema was elected US Senator and that was years ago. If it was deep red we wouldn’t be where we are now. Major constitutional officers are Democrats, US senators are Democrats. The state Legislature has a one person majority with an impotent Republican party and incompetent leadership. Conservatives are not on the streets in the thousands demanding change. Doesn’t look like a deep red state.
Not surprising. When it comes to voting the first ones Liberals target are the military vote as most of the military tends to be conservative and liberals know it
the 5 C’s of Arizona
Corruption
Culpability
Criminal by intent
Crime
Criminality
Can we click our heals together and go home to Arizona again? Who’s behind the Iron Curtain
39 states ! permit individuals who have never resided in the United States to cast ballots in our state elections.
This policy applies in several crucial swing states who often decide presidential elections,
Including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
If Adrian Fontes is mentioned anywhere in an article regarding nefarious actions on the part of AZ elections, you can bet he is a major part of the problem and is a disgusting POS!
How he got to be, or still is, the SOS proves one of two things; the voters are ignorant or the elections are rigged…maybe both.
This action should be stopped in its tracks. The Secretary of State is up to no good or is unqualified to be in office. He should be removed immediately.