Arizona Secretary of State seeks reelection

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes stopped in Yuma today as he campaigns for reelection, laying out what he says are his priorities are and the role his office plays across the state.

In our interview, Fontes said the Secretary of State’s office handles more than just elections. He pointed to three main responsibilities: serving as the state’s chief election officer, overseeing business services like notaries and support for small businesses, and managing Arizona’s state library, archives, and public records.

On election security, Fontes said Arizona already has multiple layers of safeguards in place. “You have security for your personnel, you’ve got security for your facilities, you’ve got security in the ballots themselves, and then you’ve got your security in the information technology system,” he said. He added that with additional funding, the state could modernize and update systems used by counties every day.

Fontes also addressed claims of widespread election fraud, saying they don’t hold up without evidence. “If the person making an accusation brings evidence, then we can talk about that evidence. But there is none,” he said.

Looking ahead, Fontes said that if reelected, one of his priorities would be maintaining access to voting while keeping confidence in the system. He said Arizona’s mail-in voting system is already secure and supports efforts to keep voting accessible while following state laws on voter ID and proof of citizenship.

Fontes encouraged Arizonans to stay informed on the issues and participate in upcoming elections in July and November.