Department of Justice (DOJ) announced be lawsuit For Virginia, which purged its voter rolls on Friday. The department alleges that state officials violated the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) by challenging voters' eligibility too close to the November election.
“As required by the National Voter Registration Act, officials across the country should be mindful of the law's clear and unequivocal limitations on organized list maintenance efforts within 90 days after an election.” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark. Split.
In early August, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Va.) signed an executive order ensuring that voter lists are updated “daily.”
These updates include “Compare”.[ing] Adds a “list of individuals identified as noncitizens'' by the state Department of Transportation to the “list of existing registered voters.''
Local registrars were then required to contact challenging voters and inform them that unless they “confirm their citizenship” within 14 days, their charges are “pending revocation.”
The Justice Department said the process resulted in the cancellation of some Virginia voter registrations.
“Systematic deletion programs are more error-prone than other forms of list maintenance, and voters who proceed to delete days or weeks before Election Day are either deterred from voting or are unable to vote under normal conditions. You may not be able to participate, except through federal error,” the legal filing states.
The lawsuit follows a similar Justice Department filing against the state of Alabama. The NVRA allows for a quiet period provision intended to prevent authorities from removing names from voter registration lists based on not meeting initial eligibility requirements, including citizenship, at the time of registration. There is.
“By canceling voter registration within 90 days of Election Day, Virginia is putting voters at risk of being removed from the rolls and creating a risk of voter confusion,” Clark said. “Congress adopted the National Voter Registration Act's quiet period limitations to prevent error-prone 11th-hour efforts that often disenfranchise eligible voters.”
The Department is encouraging individuals who believe they have been unfairly excluded to contact the Office of Civil Rights Voting Section through its internet reporting portal.
“The right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy, and the Department of Justice remains committed to ensuring that the rights of eligible voters are protected,” Clark concluded.
