Justice Department Sues Alabama Over Voter Roll Purge
Washington, D.C. — The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Alabama, contending that the state’s recent move to remove over 3,000 individuals from its voter rolls violates federal law. The action comes just weeks before the upcoming federal election.
On August 13, Alabama GOP Secretary of State Wes Allen announced the removal of 3,251 names he identified as noncitizens. However, he acknowledged that some of these individuals may have since naturalized and could be eligible to vote. The Justice Department’s 18-page lawsuit claims this purge contravenes the National Voter Registration Act, which mandates a 90-day period before an election during which states cannot systematically remove eligible voters.
The lawsuit highlights that while more than 700 individuals affected by the purge have re-registered, many eligible U.S. citizens remain at risk of disenfranchisement. "The State’s unlawful actions have confused and deterred U.S. citizens who are fully eligible to vote," the DOJ stated, emphasizing that such purges are error-prone and can lead to wider disenfranchisement.
Legal experts from both political sides have noted that instances of noncitizen voting are exceedingly rare and are usually detected quickly. The federal lawsuit enhances an ongoing legal challenge to Alabama’s voter roll actions, with cases now consolidated for judicial efficiency ahead of Election Day.
The Justice Department is seeking to restore voting rights to all eligible voters impacted by the purge, urging Alabama to address the confusion caused by its actions. Allen, however, maintained that he has a constitutional duty to prevent noncitizens from voting, refraining from commenting on the litigation.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to protecting voting rights as the election approaches.
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