‘Apartheid in the US’: Arizona’s secretary of state fights Trump’s plot to amass a ‘master list’ of voters
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has accused former President Donald Trump of attempting to create a centralized database of American voters to control who can vote and potentially punish political opponents. Fontes argues that the Trump administration's efforts to collect voter rolls from 30 states represent an unprecedented invasion of privacy and a threat to democratic norms. A federal judge recently ruled in Fontes's favor, rejecting a Justice Department lawsuit seeking Arizona's voter data and reinforcing state laws protecting voter privacy.
- ▪Adrian Fontes, Arizona’s secretary of state, warns that Trump’s push for a national voter database could enable authoritarian control over citizens’ lives.
- ▪A federal judge ruled that the Department of Justice cannot compel Arizona to hand over its voter rolls, citing federal law.
- ▪At least six federal courts have ruled against the Trump administration in similar cases, with judges finding no legal basis for the data demands.
- ▪Thirteen states have voluntarily provided voter data to the Justice Department, while many others, including Arizona, have refused on legal and privacy grounds.
- ▪Fontes compares Trump’s voter data initiative to apartheid and authoritarian regimes, claiming it could be used to restrict access to banking and healthcare for political opponents.
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Adrian Fontes in Phoenix, Arizona, on 4 June 2024. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP via Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenAdrian Fontes in Phoenix, Arizona, on 4 June 2024. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP via Getty ImagesThe fight for democracyArizona‘Apartheid in the US’: Arizona’s secretary of state fights Trump’s plot to amass a ‘master list’ of votersDatabase could be used to regulate opponents, from ‘shutting off bank accounts’ to healthcare, official warnsThe fight for democracy is supported byAbout this contentEd Pilkington in Phoenix, ArizonaSun 3 May 2026 06.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleDonald Trump is attempting to select his own citizenry and control who can vote by gathering the personal details of all Americans, Arizona’s top election official has warned.Adrian…
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