The Division of Justice sued the State of Alabama and its prime election official, alleging that that they had eliminated voters who had beforehand been issued noncitizen identification numbers from its election rolls too near election day.
Noncitizen identification numbers are a tax-processing quantity issued by the Inside Income Service (IRS) to make sure that folks—together with undocumented immigrants—pay taxes. Together with paying taxes, noncitizen identification numbers can present authorized migrants with securing a driver’s license and offering proof of residency.
After being sworn into workplace in January, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen started working to determine and take away 3,251 people who’re registered to vote in Alabama who’ve been issued noncitizen identification numbers by the Division of Homeland Safety.
“I’ve been clear that I can’t tolerate the participation of noncitizens in our elections,” Allen beforehand mentioned in a launch. “I’ve even gone as far as to testify earlier than a United States Senate Committee relating to the significance of this situation. We have now examined the present voter file in an try and determine anybody who seems on that checklist that has been issued a noncitizen identification quantity.” Â
ALABAMA ELECTION OFFICIALS SAYS BIDEN EXECUTIVE ORDER GIVES ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ‘MECHANISM’ TO REGISTER TO VOTE
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, testify throughout a listening to earlier than the Senate Guidelines and Administration Committee at Russell Senate Workplace Constructing on Capitol Hill on March 12, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Photographs)
Now, the DOJ is pushing again and has filed a lawsuit in opposition to Alabama and Allen.
The company argued that Allen violated the Nationwide Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), which requires states to finish any modifications to the voter registration lists no later than 90 days earlier than federal elections.
Allen carried out the modifications 84 days earlier than, the DOJ alleged.
Indicators directing voters are seen outdoors a polling place on March 5, 2024, in Mountain Brook, Alabama. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Photographs)
“The correct to vote is likely one of the most sacred rights in our democracy,” Assistant Lawyer Normal Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division mentioned in a press release. “As Election Day approaches, it’s important that Alabama redress voter confusion ensuing from its checklist upkeep mailings despatched in violation of federal legislation.
ALABAMA SECRETARY OF STATE ALLEN ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL FROM VOTER REGISTRATION GROUP
The DOJ additionally alleged that Allen’s removing of voter registration additionally impacted natural-born residents who had been incorrectly recognized as potential noncitizens.
The Division of Justice seals is seen throughout a information convention on the DOJ workplace in Washington, Might 16, 2023. (AP Photograph/Jose Luis Magana)
The Justice Division seeks injunctive aid that “would restore the flexibility of impacted eligible voters to vote unimpeded on Election Day,” the division mentioned in a press release.
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“The division additionally seeks remedial mailings to teach eligible voters regarding the restoration of their rights and satisfactory coaching of native officers and ballot employees to deal with confusion and mistrust amongst eligible voters accused of being noncitizens,” the company mentioned.
Reached for remark late Saturday evening, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen informed Fox Information Digital, “I used to be elected Secretary of State by the folks of Alabama, and it’s my Constitutional responsibility to make sure that solely Americans vote in our elections. Â
“As to the query relating to the Division of Justice’s lawsuit, this workplace doesn’t touch upon pending litigation the place the Secretary of State is a named defendant.”
