Federal judge blocks Virginia voter registration purge

A federal judge has issued a ruling to prevent the state of Virginia from removing individuals from its voter rolls who are allegedly noncitizens. The judge's decision also ordered the reinstatement of over 1,600 individuals who had already been removed from the voter rolls. The ruling was made by Judge Patricia Giles in the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, just 11 days before the upcoming Presidential election.

Timing of the Purge

Judge Giles ruled in favor of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), stating that the order to purge the voter rolls issued by Governor Glenn Youngkin on August 7 was made too close to Election Day. The DOJ highlighted the fact that federal law prohibits states from systematically removing individuals from voter rolls within 90 days of an election. This legal restriction was a key factor in the judge's decision.

Governor Youngkin's order had mandated election officials to remove individuals from the voter rolls based on their indications of noncitizenship on Department of Motor Vehicles forms. Additionally, those who left that section blank were also subject to removal. However, this directive faced legal challenges due to its timing and the potential impact on eligible voters.

Concerns Raised

During a hearing, Judge Giles expressed concerns regarding the potential number of affected individuals. She pointed out that the executive order to purge the voter rolls was issued exactly 90 days before Election Day, which raised questions about the intent behind the timing. Furthermore, the judge rejected a request to pause her ruling, despite arguments from Virginia's lawyer, Charles Cooper, who warned that noncitizens would be reinstated on the voter rolls.

In a statement following the ruling, Governor Youngkin expressed strong objections, pointing out that the federal judge's order came just 11 days before a crucial Presidential election. He emphasized that the affected individuals had self-identified as noncitizens and questioned the validity of their reinstatement on the voter rolls. Governor Youngkin also stated the state's intention to appeal the ruling.