The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Alabama over the state’s efforts to remove noncitizens from its voter lists ahead of the November presidential election.
The DOJ argues that Alabama’s actions could potentially violate federal law and have a significant impact on voter access as the election approaches.
According to The Washington Times, the DOJ is asking a federal judge to order Alabama to restore the names of individuals presumed to be ineligible to vote back onto the active voter lists.
The lawsuit also highlights concerns that some legitimate U.S. citizens may have been incorrectly flagged as ineligible voters and moved to an inactive voter file.
The timing of Alabama’s efforts is a central issue in the lawsuit.
The state’s action, which was announced 84 days before the presidential election, is being challenged under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).
This federal law prohibits the removal of voters from registration lists within 90 days of an election, a safeguard designed to ensure that eligible voters are not improperly disenfranchised close to election day.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, representing the DOJ, framed the lawsuit as a broader message to other states that may consider similar actions. “It is critical that Alabama redress voter confusion,” Clarke said, emphasizing the potential for harm if legitimate voters are wrongfully removed from the rolls so close to the election.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen defended the state’s actions, stating that his office had used data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to identify 3,251 individuals who are considered potential noncitizens on the state’s voter rolls.
