A legal battle erupts between federal authorities and a state government over voter registration practices.
The Department of Justice has initiated legal action against Virginia for its recent efforts to remove non-citizens from voter lists.
According to Breitbart News, the DOJ claims that Virginia's actions violate federal law by occurring too close to the upcoming presidential election.
At the heart of the dispute is Section 8(c)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, also known as the Quiet Period Provision. This provision mandates that states complete systematic programs to remove ineligible voters from registration lists no later than 90 days before federal elections.
The Justice Department's lawsuit targets the State of Virginia, the Virginia State Board of Elections, and the Virginia Commissioner of Elections. The DOJ argues that Virginia's recent voter list cleanup efforts could potentially disenfranchise eligible voters.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division emphasized the importance of adhering to the NVRA's guidelines. She stated that the law clearly restricts systematic list maintenance efforts within 90 days of an election to prevent errors that could deprive qualified voters of their rights.
The DOJ's press release highlighted that the Quiet Period Provision applies to systematic programs aimed at removing names from voter registration lists based on perceived failures to meet initial eligibility requirements, including citizenship status.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued a strong response to the DOJ's lawsuit, characterizing it as an "unprecedented" legal action against him and the Commonwealth. Youngkin defended the state's actions, stating that they were enforcing a 2006 law signed by then-Governor Tim Kaine, who is now a Democratic U.S. Senator.
The Governor revealed that in 2023, approximately 79,867 deceased voters were removed from Virginia's voter lists. Additionally, between January 2022 and July 2024, about 6,303 non-citizens were taken off the voter rolls.
Youngkin asserted:
Virginians – and Americans – will see this for exactly what it is. A desperate attempt to attack the legitimacy of the elections in the Commonwealth, the very crucible of American Democracy. With the support of our Attorney General, we will defend these commonsense steps, that we are legally required to take, with every resource available to us.
The timing of Virginia's voter list cleanup has become a central point of contention. The DOJ argues that such actions so close to a federal election could lead to confusion and potentially disenfranchise qualified voters.
Governor Youngkin, however, maintains that the state is simply enforcing existing law. He emphasized that Virginia's elections would remain secure and fair, pledging to defend against what he views as a politically motivated interference in the state's electoral processes.
The DOJ's lawsuit against Virginia over voter list maintenance practices has brought national attention to the state's election procedures. Governor Youngkin's strong defense of the state's actions sets the stage for a legal battle that could impact election processes beyond Virginia's borders. The case underscores the ongoing debate over election integrity and voter access as the nation prepares for another presidential election.
