The Division of Justice sued the State of Alabama and its high election official, alleging that they’d eliminated voters who had beforehand been issued noncitizen identification numbers from its election rolls too near election day.
Noncitizen identification numbers are a tax-processing quantity issued by the Inner Income Service (IRS) to make sure that folks—together with undocumented immigrants—pay taxes. Together with paying taxes, noncitizen identification numbers can present authorized migrants with securing a driver’s license and offering proof of residency.
After being sworn into workplace in January, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen started working to determine and take away 3,251 people who’re registered to vote in Alabama who’ve been issued noncitizen identification numbers by the Division of Homeland Safety.
“I have been clear that I will not tolerate the participation of noncitizens in our elections,” Allen beforehand mentioned in a launch. “I have even gone so far as to testify before a United States Senate Committee regarding the importance of this issue. We have examined the current voter file in an attempt to identify anyone who appears on that list that has been issued a noncitizen identification number.”
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, testify throughout a listening to earlier than the Senate Guidelines and Administration Committee at Russell Senate Workplace Constructing on Capitol Hill on March 12, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Photos)
Now, the DOJ is pushing again and has filed a lawsuit towards Alabama and Allen.
The company argued that Allen violated the Nationwide Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), which requires states to finish any adjustments to the voter registration lists no later than 90 days earlier than federal elections.
Allen applied the adjustments 84 days earlier than, the DOJ alleged.
Indicators directing voters are seen outdoors a polling place on March 5, 2024, in Mountain Brook, Alabama. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Photos)
“The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy,” Assistant Lawyer Normal Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division mentioned in an announcement. “As Election Day approaches, it’s crucial that Alabama redress voter confusion ensuing from its listing upkeep mailings despatched in violation of federal regulation.
ALABAMA SECRETARY OF STATE ALLEN ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL FROM VOTER REGISTRATION GROUP
The DOJ additionally alleged that Allen’s removing of voter registration additionally impacted natural-born residents who had been incorrectly recognized as potential noncitizens.
The Division of Justice seals is seen throughout a information convention on the DOJ workplace in Washington, Could 16, 2023. (AP Photograph/Jose Luis Magana)
The Justice Division seeks injunctive reduction that “would restore the ability of impacted eligible voters to vote unimpeded on Election Day,” the division mentioned in an announcement.
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“The department also seeks remedial mailings to educate eligible voters concerning the restoration of their rights and adequate training of local officials and poll workers to address confusion and distrust among eligible voters accused of being noncitizens,” the company mentioned.
Reached for remark late Saturday night time, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen informed Fox Information Digital, “I used to be elected Secretary of State by the folks of Alabama, and it’s my Constitutional obligation to make sure that solely Americans vote in our elections.
“As to the question regarding the Department of Justice’s lawsuit, this office does not comment on pending litigation where the Secretary of State is a named defendant.”
