In a significant legal move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Virginia, alleging the unlawful removal of voters from registration lists shortly before the upcoming elections this November.
The Hill reported that the DOJ has accused Virginia officials of violating the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) by purging voter rolls too close to the election, thus risking the disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
On Friday, the DOJ made public its legal action against Virginia, citing specific breaches of federal voting regulations outlined in the NVRA.
The act, which was instituted in 1993, includes a clear "quiet period" to prevent questionable voter roll maintenance measures within 90 days of an election.
According to the DOJ, the state of Virginia undertook efforts to challenge and remove voters from the registration list in this prohibited timeframe.
In early August, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order that demanded the continuous updating of the voter list.
This process involved comparing data between the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and existing registrations to identify non-citizens on the electoral roll.
Consequently, local election officials contacted voters whose eligibility was questioned, instructing them to verify their citizenship within a short 14-day window.
Those failing to comply faced having their registrations canceled, the DOJ noted. Critics warn that such last-minute changes could create significant confusion and deter voter participation.
The DOJ compared these steps to previous confrontations it had with Alabama over similar voter roll purging tactics. Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, emphasized the importance of adhering to legal boundaries established for protecting voters, particularly as Election Day approached.
"Officials nationwide must respect the NVRA’s restrictions," Clarke highlighted, underscoring the potential consequences when systematic removal procedures occur too close to an election.
When these changes happen quickly before Election Day, she explained, there is a heightened risk of voters being improperly removed, thereby impeding their right to participate.
In contrast, Governor Youngkin pushed back against the lawsuit, condemning it as an unwarranted assault on the state’s electoral integrity processes.
"Virginians – and Americans – will see this for exactly what it is," Youngkin remarked, framing the lawsuit as politically motivated and an attack on the legitimacy of Virginia's elections. The DOJ's actions are obviously intended to protect the Biden-Harris administration's interests in the election.
Democrats have a lot to gain from fraudulent votes and are terrified by the prospect of Virginia cleaning its voter rolls considering most of the state is red and is only blue because of its urban centers. It won't take much to upset that fine balance and cost Kamala Harris a state she should be able to count on.
It's important that Youngkin stand up to the federal government and protect Virginia's autonomy in running its own elections and ensuring that there is no room for voter fraud.