( CNN ) -- Arizona 's Maricopa county listed the wrong date in the Spanish version of voter registration cards , a development likely to further complicate tense relations between local authorities and Latino residents . The county 's elections office says it mailed out nearly 2 million new voter registration cards . Only about 50 of the cards -- handed out over-the-counter at its offices -- had the error , it said . Instead of November 6 , the Spanish translation said the election would take place on November 8 . `` The program has been updated so it reflects the correct dates in both English and Spanish , '' the county said in a statement . A local rights group said the damage has already been done . `` It 's a mistake that should not have happened , '' Petra Falcon , the executive director of Promise Arizona in Action , told CNN affiliate KNXV-TV . `` To know that there 's information out there that 's wrong , it 's going to take a lot of work to make sure that people know the correct date . '' Promise Arizona describes itself as `` a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding civic participation in Arizona , particularly among Latinos and youth . '' County officials and local Hispanics have long had an adversarial relationship , particularly over the subject of illegal immigration . Those disputes have landed in court . In one instance , the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and other attorneys are representing Hispanics in a class-action lawsuit accusing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio of civil rights and constitutional violations . The bench trial is being held in the U.S. District Court in Phoenix . Plaintiffs in the civil case accuse Arpaio -- who bills himself as `` America 's toughest '' -- and his department of racial discrimination against Latinos . The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund , and the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona , are waiting for a federal judge 's ruling after a trial of their class-action lawsuit . Arpaio denies any discrimination . In a separate matter , the U.S. Justice Department has also accused the sheriff 's office of civil rights violations against Latinos . The sheriff has described the lawsuit against him and the county as politically motivated . `` They 're using me for the Latino vote , showing that they 're doing something , taking on the sheriff over an alleged racial profiling , '' he said in May . Arpaio rejected the Department of Justice 's call for monitors to oversee the workings of his department . `` That shows you they want to take over this office , '' he said . `` Under this agreement with the so-called monitor , I 'd probably have to clear every press release before I go public , especially having to do with illegal immigration , with the Department of Justice . '' His remarks came after the Justice Department filed the civil lawsuit . `` At its core , this is an abuse-of-power case involving a sheriff and sheriff 's office that disregarded the Constitution , ignored sound police practices , compromised public safety and did not hesitate to retaliate against perceived critics , '' Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas Perez said in May . The Justice Department had delivered in December a report with findings of civil rights violations and sought to fix them through a negotiated settlement with Maricopa County and its sheriff 's office . Those talks broke down in February over the county 's refusal to consider any agreement that involved an independent monitor , Perez said . According to the civil complaint , the sheriff 's office has displayed a pattern of discrimination against Latinos , which includes racial profiling , unlawful detention and searches , and unlawful targeting of Latinos during raids . Arpaio has denied any discrimination , and one of his attorneys called the Justice Department investigation a `` witch hunt . '' CNN 's Greg Morris contributed to this report .
About half of the incorrect cards were handed out , Maricopa County says . The mistake has been corrected , according to county officials . There is a long - running dispute between local authorities and Latino groups . Hispanic groups have accused county officials of racism .