The Biden administration filed a swimsuit towards Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen Friday, accusing the election official of violating federal legislation by purging voter rolls too near Election Day.
The lawsuit, filed by the Division of Justice (DOJ), alleges that Allen breached the “quiet period provision,” a part of the Nationwide Voter Registration Act, which prevents systemic clearing of names from voter rolls inside 90 days of an election.
“The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy,” Assistant Legal professional Common Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division mentioned in a assertion. “As Election Day approaches, it is critical that Alabama redress voter confusion resulting from its list maintenance mailings sent in violation of federal law.”
“Officials across the country should take heed of the National Voter Registration Act’s clear and unequivocal restrictions on systematic list maintenance efforts that fall within 90 days of an election,” she added.
DOJ’s submitting comes after Allen launched a “process to remove noncitizens registered to vote in Alabama” on Aug. 13. He, on the time, mentioned that his workplace recognized 3,251 people who’re registered to vote within the state, however have been “issued noncitizen identification numbers” by the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS). The secretary additionally added that a few of these individuals have develop into naturalized residents and subsequently might legally vote.
The division mentioned it found in its “review,” that many native-born and naturalized residents additionally obtained letters as much as 84 days previous to the election saying their voting report was inactive and “they have been placed on a path for removal from Alabama’s statewide voter registration list.”
“I was elected Secretary of State by the people of Alabama, and it is my Constitutional duty to ensure that only American citizens vote in our elections,” Allen mentioned in an announcement to The Hill, however declined to speak concerning the lawsuit, saying his workplace doesn’t touch upon pending laws.
DOJ’s lawsuit, which follows comparable authorized motion taken by voter advocacy teams, seeks an injunctive aid that might enable these impacted residents to vote in November.
