Recorder Lewis on Changes Coming to 2026 Elections

SBINSIDER EXCLUSIVE REPORTING | March 23rd, 2025

Dana Lewis who is the elected County Recorder and serves as the appointed Elections Director, presented an update to possible changes regarding elections in Arizona. Assembled in the Coyote Room of HOA1, Lewis reported that multiple legislative bills have been introduced regarding elections and due to the probable veto by Governor Hobbs, are also being passed as direct referendum for the 2026 ballot.

Editors note: See this week’s story about ballot initiatives at this link: BALLOT

Lewis also noted that it is likely that 20 or more new voting precincts will be added to Pinal County for 2026, due to the sprawling growth in the northern and southwestern areas of the county.

Arizona Voters Registrations Elections Mess

Lewis discussed the major flaw found in the DMV voter registration process. Under the law, new voters are required to provide proof of citizenship such as a passport of birth certificate. Hundreds of thousand of voters never provided that proof, yet the DMV added them to the voter rolls. Most the errors are in Maricopa County where 50% of the state’s voters reside. Lewis said ” The official number of incorrect DMV records was told to the media was about 218,000. ” Lewis observed that total is likely much higher, perhaps a million but “nobody knows for sure.” “This does not mean they were not citizens, only that they had not provided the required proof,” added Lewis.

For more on this story, click here: VOTER

Secretary of State Fontes to run for Grijalva Congressional Seat?

Our current Secretary of State, Democrat Adrian Fontes, has an on eye on the Congressional seat vacated by the recent death of Raul Grijalva. With the likely loss of his job in the 2026 election, running for a very safe Democrat Congressional seat as a flaming progressive is a smart move. “Fontes is gong to beaten by almost any Republican in the Secretary of State race so he would be wise to jump ship now, remarked Pinal County Assessor Douglas Wolf. Grijalva represented Arizona’s 7th district which is west Tucson along the southern border.