Arizona State Representative John Gillette has criticized Secretary of State Adrian Fontes for a directive he claims undermines the security of Arizona’s elections. On August 6, 2025, Secretary Fontes instructed counties to stop using the state-managed Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) ballot processing system in favor of a third-party platform managed by his office. According to Gillette, this move removes county oversight and could allow ballots from individuals who have never lived in Arizona to be included in elections.
“UOCAVA exists to ensure that our deployed service members, their families, and Arizona residents living overseas can securely exercise their right to vote,” said Representative Gillette. He argues that the directive expands voting access beyond legal limits and circumvents established procedures requiring public processes and legislative oversight.
Gillette contends that removing counties from control weakens safeguards against fraud and is part of a broader effort by Democrats to centralize election authority and weaken voter eligibility checks. Earlier attempts by Democrats to change election laws were blocked by Republicans in the Legislature.
“This is exactly the kind of partisan maneuver we fought to stop in the Legislature,” said Chairman Gillette. He plans to request investigations by federal agencies into potential violations of UOCAVA and the Voting Rights Act due to this directive. Additionally, he urges Congress and other bodies to withhold federal funding until compliance is restored.
“Our elections must protect lawful voters—especially our men and women serving overseas,” Gillette said, emphasizing the need for a secure voting system.
John Gillette represents Legislative District 30 in Mohave County as a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives. He chairs the Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee.
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