The Department of Justice asserts that Alabama has breached federal regulations by purging voters.
According to Axios, the state's recent actions to remove registered noncitizens from the voter rolls have sparked a federal lawsuit.
Dispute Over Voter Roll Clean-Up Procedures
Recently, the Department of Justice filed a civil action against Alabama. They claimed the state infringed on the National Voter Registration Act by purging voters within 90 days of an upcoming election.
This act strictly outlaws the removal of voters from active rolls this close to election day to prevent confusion and potential disenfranchisement.
In early August, the Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen initiated the removal of 3,251 noncitizens from the electoral rolls. This decision was made just 84 days before the voters were due to cast their ballots on November 5.
Federal Restrictions on Voter List Maintenance
The National Voter Registration Act aims to stabilize the voter registration process, especially close to election time.
In enforcing these regulations, the federal government had rejected Alabama's request to assist in identifying noncitizens on the voting rolls, leading to unilateral action by the state.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke highlighted the broader implications of such infractions:
As Election Day approaches, Alabama redresses voter confusion that must result from its list maintenance mailings sent in violation of federal law. Officials across the country should take heed of the National Voter Registration Act's clear and unequivocal restrictions on systematic list maintenance efforts that fall within 90 days of an election.
Legal Remedies Sought To Restore Voting Rights
The Justice Department is now seeking judicial intervention to correct these actions.
They have asked a federal court to reinstate any voters who may have been wrongfully removed and to notify them that their right to vote has been restored. This legal maneuver underscores the seriousness with which this issue is being treated. Secretary Wes Allen, in defense, stated his position on the matter.
He affirmed his commitment to his constitutional duty by stating, "I was elected Secretary of State by the people of Alabama, and it is my Constitutional duty to ensure that only American citizens vote in our elections."
Conclusion
The unfolding legal drama between Alabama and the Department of Justice highlights a national conflict.
On one hand, there's the state's drive to maintain the sanctity of its electoral rolls, but on the other, the federal government's commitment to ensuring these practices don’t infringe on voter rights. This story will continue to develop as the courts decide how Alabama's actions align with federal voter protection laws.
Really? Confusion and disenfranchisement? These are NON-citizens, disfranchisement should not be an issue with people that shouldn't be voting. Period. Sounds to me like the DOJ is running another scam to cheat the election process.