The U.S. Division of Justice is suing Virginia, alleging that the commonwealth eliminated noncitizens from its voter rolls too near Election Day.
The grievance alleges that the state Board of Elections and Virginia Commissioner of Elections Susan Beals violated the federal Nationwide Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which mandates that states should full their upkeep program no later than 90 days earlier than an election underneath a clause often known as the Quiet Interval Provision.
The company alleges that Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin violated the NVRA when asserting and subsequently finishing up an govt order which required the election commissioner to recurrently replace the state’s voter lists to take away people who’ve been “recognized as noncitizens,” and had not responded to a request to confirm their citizenship in 14 days.Â
Underneath Youngkin’s govt order, Virginia has eliminated 6,303 people.
“The Govt Order formalized the Program and introduced that 6,303 people had been faraway from the rolls pursuant to the identical course of between January 2022 and July 2024,” the grievance mentioned.
DOJ SUES ALABAMA, STATE’S TOP ELECTION OFFICIAL FOR ALLEGEDLY PURGING NONCITIZEN VOTERS TOO CLOSE TO ELECTION
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks through the Republican Nationwide Conference on the Fiserv Discussion board in Milwaukee, July 15. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures)
The grievance notes that voters had been recognized as attainable noncitizens in the event that they responded “no” to questions on their citizenship standing on sure types submitted to the state Division of Motor Automobiles (DMV).
“This systematic voter removing program, which the State is conducting inside 90 days of the upcoming federal election, violates the Quiet Interval Provision,” the DOJ mentioned.
In an announcement, Yougkin pushed again on the Justice Division’s lawsuit, saying the lawsuit was “politically motivated.”
“With lower than 30 days till the election, the Biden-Harris Division of Justice is submitting an unprecedented lawsuit towards me and the Commonwealth of Virginia, for appropriately imposing a 2006 regulation signed by Democrat Tim Kaine that requires Virginia to take away noncitizens from the voter rolls – a course of that begins with somebody declaring themselves a non-citizen after which registering to vote,” Youngkins mentioned.
“Virginians – and People – will see this for precisely what it’s: a determined try to assault the legitimacy of the elections within the Commonwealth, the very crucible of American Democracy,” he mentioned.
Younkin vowed to “defend these commonsense steps” and promised that the state’s election could be “safe and truthful.”
YOUNGKIN MANDATES ALL PAPER BALLOTS FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN VIRGINIA
“With the help of our Legal professional Normal, we’ll defend these commonsense steps, that we’re legally required to take, with each useful resource accessible to us,” he mentioned. “Virginia’s election will likely be safe and truthful, and I can’t stand idly by as this politically motivated motion tries to intervene in our elections, interval.”
A volunteer holds a sticker to offer to a voter at a polling place on Election Day in Stamford, Conn. (AP Photograph/Jessica Hill)
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, wrote on X that the DOJ lawsuit is “election interference.”
THOUSANDS OF NONCITIZENS REMOVED FROM VOTER ROLLS, DOZENS OF LAWMAKERS WANT ANSWERS FROM GARLANDc
“The Biden-Harris administration is partaking in election interference,” he wrote. “They’re harassing states which can be making an attempt to be sure that noncitizens can’t vote. It is a lawless abuse of energy.”
The Justice Division lawsuit towards Virginia comes after the company sued Alabama and its Republican Secretary of State Wes Allen over the state’s voter purge program that focused noncitizen voters.Â
The Justice Division has additionally sued Alabama and its Republican Secretary of State Wes Allen over the state’s voter purge program. (AP Photograph/Jose Luis Magana)
The Justice Division seeks injunctive aid that “would restore the power of impacted eligible voters to vote unimpeded on Election Day,” and “would prohibit future quiet interval violations,” the DOJ mentioned in an announcement.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“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 handle confusion and mistrust amongst eligible voters accused of being noncitizens,” the company mentioned.
Fox Information Digital has reached out to Youngkin for remark.
