The U.S. Justice Department has taken legal action against Alabama for a voter roll program that allegedly violated federal law by targeting non-citizens too close to the upcoming elections.
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department announced on Friday that it has filed a lawsuit against Alabama over a program that aimed to remove non-citizens from its election rolls. The state's Secretary of State implemented the program less than three months before the Nov. 5 elections, citing over 3,200 non-citizens registered to vote in Alabama.
The Justice Department stated that the program violated the Quiet Period Provision of federal law, which requires states to complete systematic voter registration list clean-up efforts at least 90 days before federal elections to prevent eligible voters from being wrongly removed.
Both native-born and naturalized U.S. citizens in Alabama received letters stating that their voter records were made inactive and that they were at risk of removal from the voter registration list.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen defended the program, stating, "It is my Constitutional duty to ensure that only American citizens vote in our elections."
The upcoming Nov. 5 elections will include races for president, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives, with Republican former President Donald Trump facing Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in a closely contested race.
Analysis:
The U.S. Justice Department's lawsuit against Alabama over its voter roll program highlights the importance of adhering to federal laws governing voter registration processes. The implementation of such programs close to elections can lead to the removal of eligible voters and raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. It is crucial for states to conduct systematic voter list clean-up efforts well in advance of elections to ensure that only eligible citizens have the right to vote. This legal action serves as a reminder of the need to uphold the principles of democracy and protect the voting rights of all citizens.
