The Biden-Harris administration's Justice Department recently filed a lawsuit against Alabama and the state's top election official after the state removed thousands of noncitizens from its voter rolls. The Justice Department said the move violated federal law because it came too close to Election Day.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, who took office in January 2023, removed 3,251 registered voters from the state rolls. The removed individuals had previously been issued non-citizen identification numbers by the Department of Homeland Security. Non-citizens can use the identification number to obtain a driver's license and provide proof of residency.
“It is my constitutional duty to ensure that only American citizens can vote in elections.”
Allen said he is committed to ensuring Alabama has the “cleanest and most accurate” voter rolls in the country.
Allen: “I have made it clear that I will not tolerate non-citizens participating in elections.'' said. “I went so far as to testify before a U.S. Senate committee on the importance of this issue. I investigated.''
After Mr. Allen directed that noncitizens be removed from the rolls, the administration filed a lawsuit against the state and Mr. Allen for violating the rules. National Voter Registration Act of 1993all changes to the registration list must be completed at least 90 days before the federal election. Allen's changes were implemented 84 days before the November election, according to the Justice Department.
“The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
Clark continued, “As Election Day approaches, it is critical that Alabama corrects voter confusion caused by directory mailings sent in violation of federal law.” “Officials across the country should be mindful of the National Voter Registration Act's clear and unequivocal limitations on systematic list maintenance efforts within 90 days after an election. is the result of a last-minute, error-prone effort. ”
Ministry of Justice press release The agency's investigation found that “both native-born and naturalized U.S. citizens received letters stating that their voter records had been invalidated and that they were scheduled to be removed from Alabama's statewide voter registration list. He claimed that it turned out that he had received it.
The agency is seeking injunctive relief to restore the individuals to the voter rolls.
“The ministry also calls for sending relief mailers to educate voters about restoring their rights and proper training of local officials and poll workers to address confusion and mistrust among voters who have been accused of being unpatriotic. ” reads a Department of Justice press release.
In response to the lawsuit, Allen said: fox news digital“I was elected Secretary of State by the people of Alabama, and it is my constitutional duty to ensure that only American citizens vote in elections.”
“With regard to questions regarding the Department of Justice's litigation, the Department does not comment on pending litigation in which the Secretary of State is a named defendant,” Allen added.
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