A federal judge granted a Department of Justice request to block Virginia from systematically removing alleged non-citizens from the voter rolls close to an election. U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles ordered the state to stop the program immediately and restore the registrations of over 1,600 people removed in recent months. The decision comes 10 days before Election Day. Civil rights groups sued the state over the removals, arguing that eligible voters were being disenfranchised. The judge’s ruling was seen as a victory by advocates who said all wrongfully purged voters can now cast their ballots. The Justice Department and civil rights groups found American citizens among those removed from the rolls. Governor Glenn Youngkin plans to appeal the injunction. The program, initiated by Youngkin, flags people for removal if they indicate they are not citizens on a DMV form. The groups suing say the program is catching legal citizens and those who made errors on the form. States are not allowed to systematically remove people from voter rolls within 90 days of an election. A lawyer for the state defended the program, arguing that allowing non-citizens to vote cancels out legal votes. The legal battle continues as the election approaches.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
