Sec. Adrian Fontes says ballot initiative on mail-in voting opens door to get rid of it

PHOENIX — Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said a ballot initiative in the next general election could open the door to get rid of mail-in voting.

The measure, known as House Concurrent Resolution 2001, was introduced by Rep. Alexander Kolodin in November 2025.

Kolodin described the legislation as a comprehensive election-integrity measure that strengthens voter ID requirements, tightens security for mail-in voting and bans foreign money from influencing Arizona elections.

However, Fontes claimed that the devil is in the fine print.

“I’ve read the legislation. I know what it open the doors to and I know what the advocates have said in the past,” Fontes told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos on Thursday. “They’ve said, ‘We don’t want mail-in voting anymore.'”

He added that they are going to try to get the initiative passed by using the “boogie man they’ve created of all these illegal voters” and saying it is about ID at the polls.

However, the secretary of state emphasized that voter ID is already required by law in the Grand Canyon State.

“If you’re going to vote in person, you show your ID. … That’s the law. We follow the law,” Fontes said. “It already exists, just like documented proof of citizenship. We’ve been doing that for over 20 years in Arizona, and we’re pretty darn good at it.”

Fontes noted that when there are errors or mistakes, there are moves made to prosecute the people involved.

“In January, I sent 28 cases of potential voter fraud to the attorney general for prosecution,” Fontes said.

Sec. Adrian Fontes wants to ‘bolster and enhance’ mail-in voting

Fontes made it clear that he wants free and fair elections just like everyone else, but not in a way the eliminates voters’ access.

“I want to do it in a way that doesn’t kill your ability to vote by mail. It doesn’t kill your grandmother’s ability to not have to stand in line,” Fontes said. “I want to make sure all of these voices are heard, even if they don’t agree with me.”

He added that he also wants the elections to be funded, work well and be accountable.

“I want to stop with … just the nonsense and the BS that we keep hearing from these folks that want to limit your right to vote,” Fontes concluded.

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