An escalating legal battle unfolds in Virginia as the state's voter verification process faces scrutiny.
Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin is staunchly defending election reforms after a lawsuit was filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, alleging the new measures violate federal regulations, Fox News reported.
Governor Glenn Youngkin's response to the DOJ's recent lawsuit is one of firm defense and historical continuity. The crux of the lawsuit centers on a claimed violation of federal law due to Virginia's practice of removing noncitizens from voter rolls. This practice, according to Governor Youngkin, has a longstanding precedent and bipartisan origins.
The Department of Justice asserts that Virginia might have infringed the Quiet Period Provision by failing to complete voter roll maintenance well before the election.
Historically, both Democrat and Republican administrations have used similar measures to confirm voter citizenship after individuals self-identify at DMV locations. Specifically, the system removes flagged individuals who do not verify their citizenship within 14 days; however, they can still cast a provisional ballot on election day.
Moreover, Virginia’s voter verification law was first passed under then-Governor Tim Kaine, a Democrat, in 2006 and received approval from the DOJ at the time. Furthermore, Youngkin argues that this practice is part of a broader commitment to maintaining fair and secure elections in Virginia, focusing exclusively on ensuring voter rolls accurately reflect eligible citizens.
Glenn Youngkin highlighted the law's bipartisan history, noting that successive Democratic governors, including Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam, maintained it.
The law verifies voter eligibility by starting with individuals who indicate at a Department of Motor Vehicles office that they are not U.S. citizens, and cross-referencing that information with voter registration records.
Governor Youngkin emphasizes this approach as careful and individualized, not a sweeping, indiscriminate purge. Virginia's governor passionately defended the integrity of the state's elections, criticizing the timing and basis of the DOJ's lawsuit. The law, he insists, is crucial for preventing voter fraud by noncitizens. He described the legal challenge as both surprising and confusing, given the longstanding and routine application of these measures.
Under Governor Glenn Youngkin's administration, Virginia has implemented several robust systems to ensure the security and accuracy of elections. These include the use of paper ballots and secure counting machines, complemented by stringent custody laws.
Governor Youngkin described in detail the individualized process initiated when a noncitizen self-identifies at the DMV, emphasizing the various checks in place:
To be clear, this is not a purge. This is based on a law that was signed into effect in 2006 by then-Democrat Gov. Tim Kaine. And it starts with a basic premise... that we go through a process, individualized – not system, not systematic... to affirm they are a citizen.
Virginia’s leadership argues that the DOJ’s action lacks merit, suggesting the measures are constitutionally sound and thoroughly vetted. The governor expressed bafflement and frustration over the lawsuit, pointing to the 18-year history of the law being administrated without federal objection.
With the law long regarded as a valid tool for ensuring that only eligible voters participate in the election process, Governor Youngkin remains resolute. He pledges to continue efforts to uphold the integrity of Virginia's elections, emphasizing the necessity of clean and accurate voter rolls. As Virginia's electoral practices come under national scrutiny, the outcome of this legal challenge remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is Virginia's commitment to maintaining strict controls over voter eligibility to safeguard the democratic process.
