by Staff Reporter | Feb 13, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Maricopa County’s former recorder, Stephen Richer, says Republican’s concerns over illegal alien voting are “bogus.”
The former elections leader for one of the nation’s biggest counties published that claim earlier this week in an opinion piece for The New York Times.
“Confirmed: non-citizens aren’t voting,” said Richer.
Richer cited state investigations into noncitizen voting in which voter rolls were cross-checked with citizenship status. The recorder said concerns over illegal alien voters were a myth jeopardizing democracy.
“People largely aren’t willing to risk their status in the United States — the land of economic opportunity — for the ability to cast one more vote out of hundreds of thousands or millions in a state and hundreds of millions in the country,” stated Richer. “Playing politics with the idea of fraudulent voters and stolen elections comes at a real cost to American confidence in our elections. It’s an affront to our democracy and to all those who work to deliver free and fair elections. It’s also an ominous sign for where things may be heading this year.”
However, the cross-check referenced by Richer doesn’t address the common practice of identity theft among illegal aliens. Voter rolls can only confirm the citizenship of the individual listed, not of an individual who may be usurping that identity.
According to some federal estimates, 75 percent of illegal aliens are using stolen identities. There’s about 11.5 million illegal aliens in the country per the latest federal estimate, which would mean over 8.6 million illegal aliens use stolen identities under those estimates. Around 7 million of those illegal aliens claim employment per the government.
Of the smaller number of illegal aliens whose employment is recorded on the books, the government’s low estimate for illegal alien identity theft totals over one million.
With that range of estimates, there may be anywhere from 20,000 to 170,000 illegal aliens living under stolen identities in each state, assuming equal population distribution.
A day after The New York Times published Richer’s opinion piece, the Department of Justice announced the case of another illegal alien convicted of voter fraud.
An illegal alien from Columbia voted in the 2024 presidential election under a stolen identity, which she’d been using for over 20 years. Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, 59, had obtained a Real ID and received over $400,000 in stolen federal benefits.
Those stolen benefits included over $250,000 in Housing and Urban Development rental assistance. Orovio-Hernandez also obtained eight other state IDs in addition to the Real ID she obtained in Massachusetts.
Since leaving the recorder’s office, Richer has taken up elections-related leadership positions that advance claims similar to the ones he made in his most recent opinion piece, to include senior practice fellow in American democracy with the Harvard Kennedy School and adjunct scholar with the Cato Institute.
Richer pulled away from the Republican Party during the 2024 election when he announced his intent to vote for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Other illegal aliens have voted in elections without the use of identity theft.
Last month, an illegal alien pleaded guilty to voting in the 2020 election.
Last December, two illegal aliens were indicted for voting in the November 2020 general election.
Last November, an illegal alien from Mexico elected to be the local mayor was charged for having voted illegally numerous times over his decades spent in the U.S.
Last August, a Canadian citizen voted in two federal elections, once in 2022 and in 2024.
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by Staff Reporter | Feb 12, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Tesla CEO and former Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk is urging the federal government to ban mail-in voting.
Musk and other top Republican leaders have signaled support for greater federal intervention in state and local elections.
“Voter ID and in-person voting is the only way to save democracy,” said Musk. “Critical to avoid fraud.”
Although X influencers said Musk’s comments were “breaking news,” the SpaceX CTO has advocated for in-person voting, along with ID requirements, for years.
“We should require government ID and in-person voting (unless valid medical/military/etc excuse), like other countries do or like if you want to buy beer,” said Musk in a comment over two years ago.
In the summer of 2024, Musk also advocated against electronic and drop box ballots. Musk said additional voting methods beyond in-person voting created additional variables that made it much more difficult to detect fraud.
“When combined with mail-in ballots, the system is designed to make it impossible to prove fraud,” said Musk. “Mail-in and drop box ballots should not be allowed, as cameras on the in-person voting stations would at least prevent large-scale fraud by counting how many people showed up vs ballots cast.”
Last week, Musk backed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation to amend a gap in citizenship proof existing in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections.
Proof of citizenship would include a REAL ID-compliant ID, a passport, military ID with proof of U.S. birth, government-issued photo ID card with proof of U.S. birth, or a government-issued photo ID along with a certified birth certificate, an extract from a U.S. hospital record of birth, a final adoption decree, a consular report of birth abroad, a naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship, or an American Indian card.
“It must be done or democracy is dead,” said Musk.
Rep. Andy Biggs, candidate for Arizona governor, said the bill wasn’t controversial as the media portrayed it.
“It’s not controversial to require proof of citizenship and a photo ID to vote — countries around the world require both!” said Biggs.
Reps. Eli Crane and Paul Gosar also support the legislation. The pair signed onto a letter urging the Senate to act on the legislation.
Although Musk departed DOGE over certain policy agreements earlier last year, he does agree with President Donald Trump on mail-in voting.
“No mail-in ballots (except for illness, disability, military, or travel),” posted Trump to Truth Social.
Trump had made his criticism of mail-in ballots during public conversations urging the passage of the SAVE Act, though the legislation doesn’t ban mail-in voting. Instead, the legislation would require mail voters to submit an application to receive their ballot.
The president has also issued another call to action not included in the SAVE Act: federalizing elections.
Last Monday the president said in an interview that the federal government should take over elections from the states. He proposed the takeover during the debut of former FBI director Dan Bongino’s newly resurrected podcast. Bongino will also return to his role as a Fox News contributor.
“We should take over the voting in at least many places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting,” said Trump. “We have states that are so crooked and they’re counting votes.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 17, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona Freedom Caucus (AFC) is throwing its support behind a new election-related proposal from Rep. Alexander Kolodin, announcing its endorsement for the Arizona Secure Elections Act, a measure the group says is aimed at restoring trust and stability in the state’s voting system.
The bill outlines a series of election policy changes that AFC members argue are necessary to address ongoing concerns about administration errors, delays, and voter confidence. According to the caucus, repeated issues in recent election cycles have eroded public trust and demand a comprehensive response.
“The integrity of our elections remains a top priority,” the caucus said in its statement, pointing to what it described as persistent failures that have “made it impossible for reasonable people to trust the integrity of the process and therefore outcomes.” The AFC said its legislative agenda will continue to center on tightening election procedures and removing what it views as opportunities for error or abuse.
The Arizona Secure Elections Act would make a series of changes to election laws, including affirming the principle of “one citizen, one vote”; banning campaign or ballot-measure contributions from foreign individuals or corporations; requiring government-issued identification for all voters; ending early voting at 7 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day; prohibiting ballots from being cast or accepted after polls close on Election Day; guaranteeing access to in-person voting at local polling places; and requiring mail-in voters to confirm their mailing address every election year.
If approved by lawmakers, the measure would appear on the next general election ballot for voters to decide, setting up a statewide vote as soon as 2026. AFC Chair Sen. Jake Hoffman praised both the proposal and Kolodin’s involvement, calling the act a pivotal step toward what the caucus views as long-needed structural reforms.
“With our endorsement, we will be working to ensure that Arizonans have the opportunity to vote for this Act on the 2026 ballot,” Hoffman said, crediting Kolodin and other AFC members for advancing what he characterized as essential election security priorities.
The legislation, if passed, would bypass the governor and head directly to voters for final approval. The AFC says it intends to campaign for the measure statewide ahead of the 2026 election. The proposal is likely to draw significant attention as lawmakers continue to debate voting access, election security, and administrative reforms—issues that have dominated Arizona politics across several cycles.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Oct 31, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona Freedom Caucus announced that Representative Alexander Kolodin will lead a special hearing on “The Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Democratic Governance and How to Preserve Meaningful Elections” on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in House Hearing Room 4 at the Arizona State Capitol.
The hearing, open to the public and livestreamed through the Arizona Legislature’s website, will focus on how the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping democratic institutions and the electoral process. Lawmakers plan to explore both the opportunities AI presents for improving government efficiency and the potential threats it poses to election security, voter confidence, and public trust.
Representative Kolodin, who chairs the House Ad Hoc Committee on Election Integrity and Florida-style Voting Systems, will be joined by four other Arizona House members, including fellow Freedom Caucus member Representative Rachel Keshel.
“The states cannot be complacent when it comes to the rapid development of AI,” Kolodin said in a statement. “The risk of insufficient oversight of AI is literally what dystopian nightmares are made of. Although it is reasonable to be excited about the prospects of AI to improve human life and society, it is equally critical to be vigilant about the ways it can be abused to erode our freedoms, including threatening democratic governance and our elections.”
The Arizona Freedom Caucus said it views the hearing as a proactive step toward crafting policy that anticipates how AI could be weaponized to undermine democratic processes. The group emphasized that while AI offers enormous benefits, its misuse could have far-reaching consequences for liberty, privacy, and electoral integrity.
“There is perhaps no greater concern than how AI will impact our elections,” the caucus said in its release. “We believe the best way to prevent destructive scenarios is to address AI’s prospective impacts and uses on the frontend.”
The November 14 session is expected to feature expert testimony and legislative discussion on strategies to safeguard Arizona’s electoral systems while responsibly integrating emerging technologies.
Members of the public can view the livestream of the hearing here.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Aug 25, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ02) announced Friday that he has signed on to Rep. Abe Hamadeh’s ‘Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections’ Act, known as H.R. 2499. The bill is designed to codify President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14248, which enhances U.S. election security by requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, restricting mail-in ballot deadlines, and prioritizing enforcement against non-citizen voting.
The bill further mandates that states require proof of citizenship in the form of a government-issued ID on voter registration forms, orders the Departments of State, Homeland Security, and Social Security Administration to provide federal database access to states for determining voter eligibility, and requires a single Election Day deadline for vote tabulation. Each measure will carry the threat of withdrawn federal funding in the event of non-compliance.
In a post to X, Crane wrote, “Proud to cosponsor @RepAbeHamadeh‘s bill to codify President Trump’s executive order on election integrity. Arizonans have witnessed poorly-run elections firsthand, and this legislation addresses key vulnerabilities. We must have an efficient and trustworthy process.”
After introducing the bill, Hamadeh said in a statement at the time, “The American people deserve better. They deserve to know that their legally cast ballot is counted and accounted for. I am disappointed, but obviously not surprised that Mayes and Fontes seek to thwart the implementation of commonsense safeguards of democracy.”
He added, “As a trusted advisor once said to me, ‘election integrity never disenfranchised a single soul, but a single act of election fraud disenfranchises us all.’”
In a press release, he added, “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. We are taking swift action to rebuild citizens’ trust in our elections through comprehensive and meaningful election integrity legislation.”
In a post to X, the Congressman observed, “Many people say we should focus on the future and move on from 2020 and 2022… How could I(?) [K]nowing what I know? Our elections have been hijacked, they’ve been corrupted, and the American people deserve justice. It can never happen again. Election Security IS National Security.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
