In a ruling that has been hailed as a victory for voting rights, a federal judge in Alabama has halted a program that had resulted in the purging of thousands of legal voters from the state’s rolls. The program, which was initiated by Alabama’s Secretary of State, targeted voters who were flagged as potential non-citizens based on data from the state’s driver’s license database.
The judge’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by voting rights organizations, who argued that the program disproportionately affected minority voters and violated the National Voter Registration Act. The ruling requires Alabama to reinstate the purged voters and provide them with notice and an opportunity to appeal.
The program had come under fire for its lack of accuracy, with reports of legal voters being removed from the rolls despite being U.S. citizens. Critics also pointed out that the program’s reliance on driver’s license data could result in the disenfranchisement of low-income and minority voters who are less likely to have a driver’s license.
The judge’s ruling was met with praise from voting rights advocates, who see it as a step towards ensuring that all eligible voters have access to the ballot box. In a statement, the ACLU of Alabama called the decision a victory for democracy and urged Alabama to adopt more accurate and fair voter registration practices.
The ruling is likely to have broader implications for voter purging programs across the country, as other states face legal challenges over similar practices. It serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding voter rights and ensuring that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
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