In the latest legal battle over voting rights, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the State of Alabama and its Secretary of State, Wes Allen. The lawsuit, filed on September 27, 2024, claims that Alabama violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by systematically purging noncitizen voters from the state’s rolls too close to the upcoming November general election. The DOJ argues that Alabama’s actions infringe upon federal law that protects voter eligibility and could disenfranchise eligible voters, including naturalized U.S. citizens.
The Purge and its Timing
At the heart of the lawsuit is Alabama’s decision to initiate voter roll maintenance in mid-August 2024, just 84 days before the federal election. According to the NVRA’s “Quiet Period Provision,” states are prohibited from conducting systematic voter roll removals within 90 days of a federal election to prevent errors and confusion. Alabama’s decision to target over 3,000 individuals who had been flagged as potentially noncitizens has drawn sharp criticism.
The DOJ argues that many of these flagged individuals, including native-born and naturalized citizens, received notices that their voter status was inactive and that they would be purged unless they completed a voter registration form. These individuals were told they had only 14 days to rectify their status, which could lead to widespread voter confusion(WMay)(Justice.gov).
Legal Implications
The lawsuit from the DOJ aims to halt Alabama’s voter purge and restore the voting rights of those affected. The Justice Department seeks injunctive relief that would prevent further removals, educate affected voters about their rights, and require local election officials to be trained on how to handle these situations. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the importance of the lawsuit, stating that the purge threatens the sanctity of one of the most fundamental rights in a democracy: the right to vote(Justice.gov).
According to the DOJ, this lawsuit is critical because purging voters so close to Election Day could cause irreparable harm, potentially leaving some eligible voters unable to cast their ballots. The department pointed out that the process Alabama used was error-prone, affecting legitimate voters who had every right to participate in the upcoming election(Public Radio Tulsa).
Alabama’s Response
Secretary of State Wes Allen has defended the state’s actions, stating that maintaining the integrity of elections and ensuring that only U.S. citizens vote is a constitutional responsibility. In a statement, Allen said, “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.” He has not yet responded in detail to the DOJ’s legal challenge but has continued to assert that the purge was necessary to protect the legitimacy of Alabama’s elections(WMay)(Public Radio Tulsa).
However, Alabama’s timing of the purge has come under intense scrutiny. The Justice Department maintains that while states are permitted to remove ineligible voters from the rolls, they must adhere to federal guidelines, especially when it comes to the Quiet Period, to prevent any disruptions to eligible voters’ participation(Justice.gov).
Broader Implications
This lawsuit is emblematic of a broader struggle between state governments and federal authorities over voting rights. As the 2024 elections draw near, similar disputes have arisen in other states, with civil rights organizations and government officials battling over the balance between election integrity and access to voting.
Voting rights advocates argue that states like Alabama are disproportionately targeting minority communities, including naturalized citizens, under the guise of removing noncitizens from the voter rolls. These advocates also point out that voter purges, particularly when conducted hastily, can cause lasting harm, sowing distrust in the electoral process and potentially disenfranchising large groups of eligible voters.
Meanwhile, conservative-leaning states like Alabama contend that efforts to maintain clean and accurate voter rolls are essential to preventing voter fraud. They assert that noncitizen voting could undermine the credibility of elections, though widespread evidence of such fraud remains elusive(Justice.gov).
The Path Forward
As Alabama and the DOJ prepare for a legal showdown, this case will be closely watched across the country. It could set a precedent for how states manage their voter rolls and whether federal courts will continue to prioritize the NVRA’s Quiet Period Provision.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant ramifications not only for Alabama voters but for election processes nationwide, as states grapple with questions surrounding voter eligibility, citizenship, and election security.
Given the proximity of the November election, the courts may fast-track hearings and rulings, but for now, the legal battle over Alabama’s voter purge is just beginning(Justice.gov)(WMay)(Public Radio Tulsa).
j is just another way the DOJ is going after a fair election. It should not be a time limit on purging the records, it goes after illegals from voting.
I have to open by stating I can’t stand or stomach to even look at that sack of evil garbage; that is a false DOJ AG and is “nothing about Justice or Rule of Law” but is “only about doing the bidding of the Devil and propagating more evil!” How he is still able to be allowed to be in such a position and speak about any legal matters is an atrocity in and of itself! I was taught a long time ago that “sometimes you need to give evil people enough rope to hang themselves,” and “this clown has done it in spades;” not only being involved in attempted assassinations of an opposition Party Presidential Candidate than his boss on the Communist Democrat side, but also election interference with now a slew of concocted phony legal charges and now this obvious election rigging which is what he tries to accuse others of doing. This “Desperate Desperado” “is going down in flames” and is about to be end up behind bars for the rest of his days on earth; then the Devil take and be done with him.
This maniac Garland just convicted himself along with all of the Federal Judicial and Executive branches of the government of “attempting to control the outcome of the general election” in their own partisan favor and that “they have been rigging the election bringing in so many illegals to begin with!” It is all so obvious and Treasonous so the curtain needs to come down on them and their scam; justice must be done by God! Illegal Invaders and NON American’s do not get to VOTE, that is a US Citizen’s Right ONLY!
Your so right brother Lawrence, and the do nothing Republicans should bring in a separate investigation team to go after the Communist DOJ.
Garland and Wrey should have been Arrested and hung or shot by a Fireing Squad a long time ago.
The Republicans are nolonger becoming the representatives of the people by showing complete weakness for the demands of We The People but complying with the Communist Democrats and Rinos.
I placed a comment where Biden took 5-billion taxpayers money from Medicare to manipulate the 2024 election.
Their going after our Medicare and raising the cost on senior citizens while giving it free to the Illegals.!
Michael, you are absolutely correct and there is no accountability as they continue on like a wrecking ball demolishing the Constitution and our nation for self-interest power mongering, like dictators! Treason!
AMEN well said – the rage I feel about this guy daring to prevent a state from purginng ILLEGALS from voting – or purging the voter roles of anyone voting illegally is just mind blowing…How Trump has survived this persection and proosecution for so long is beyond my comprehension – God must be shielding him – I pray for his strength and that armies of warring angels would stand guard over our voting booths – the fact that Dominion STILL maintains that they can’t be hacked is so ludicrous – EVERY Bank, hospital bit Tech company our own govt etc has been HACKED.
Dale, all true and Amen to the angels watching all the devils doing their dirty dealing and may they swat them down like flies!
What is going on with the DOJ are they now committing sedition and treason? Only citizens of this country( America) are the only people or persons who are legally allowed to vote and the DOJ is now committing criminal offences and must be STOPPED at all cot before WE the PEOPLE are delegated to the waste bin and we all become slaves to the Far Left Liberal Communistic socially Inept Demonrats
Very well stated Reginald.
If the Republicans don’t do anything about this and allow the Communist Democrats and Rinos to get away with this Treasonous act (as they’ve allowed them too) and stand with the Constitution and the Rule of law then we’ve lost America forever.
Then the Communist Democrats will declare victory over everyone and remain in power, the next step will be ruled that Americans are the terrorists and must be eliminated.
Michael, again absolutely correct and they are following the template of the Communist Manifesto! What you said here is the crux of it; “Treasonous act (as they’ve allowed them too) and stand with the Constitution and the Rule of law then we’ve lost America forever.”
I’ve said since 2020 they are operating a soft coup to screw the American Citizens! If not stopped then they have taken over Amerika.
Reginald P Zenkewich; that is exactly what they’re committing!
5 U.S. Code § 3331 – Oath of office
“An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: “I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” This section does not affect other oaths required by law.”
Okay! So, our government “by the people and for the people” is suing the state of Alabama because they purged/removed ILLEGAL alien/immigrants from voting lists! The democrats have been using the DOJ ever since they took office to go after anybody and or entity that goes against their leftist/liberal/psycho agenda/ideology, so, it makes sense that they’d do anything by any means possible to get as many individuals on the voters list regardless of age, citizenship or not, living or dead! Shameful, absolutely shameful!
Yes Sarge, it’s also treason along with what I said back in 2020 part and parcel of their soft coup. The Democrat Communist Crime Party has no intention of stopping their crime spree and overthrow of the US Constitution.
All states should purge their rolls. Especiallly democratic controlled states. Democrats love sending out ballots to dead people so they can vote, same with people who moved out ot state. SS Administration is also at fault of putging rolls, they admit carrying dead people on their rolls. So when COLA increases come out they get the increaase, same with the stimulus paynents. Of couse some families will keep the moneym especially if they have a way of cashing the check.
Gidge, all so true and a travesty that it’s gone on a long as it has; all responsible for this treason should get life sentences in Leavenworth!