DOJ Sues Virginia Over Voter Roll Removals

The Biden administration is suing Virginia over Governor Glenn Youngkin's initiative to remove over 6,000 non-citizens from the voter rolls, citing violations of the National Voter Registration Act's 'Quiet Period Provision', which prohibits systematic voter removals within 90 days of an election. Youngkin's Executive Order 35, enacted in August, aimed to ensure that only eligible voters remain on the rolls by requiring individuals who identified as non-citizens to verify their citizenship. The Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Youngkin's actions violate federal law, while Youngkin argues that the removals are conducted on a case-by-case basis. Civil rights attorney Leo Terrell criticized the DOJ's lawsuit as political, asserting that Youngkin's approach includes providing due process for those individuals. The DOJ is also deploying district elections officers nationwide to safeguard election integrity and address threats against election workers ahead of the upcoming November elections. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between state and federal approaches to voter registration and eligibility.