A recent legal dispute over voting rights in Virginia has concluded after a federal judge ruled against Governor Glenn Youngkin's executive order that removed over 1,600 voters from the registration lists. This order, signed on August 7, was intended to enhance election security by eliminating non-citizen voters, according to Youngkin.
However, this action sparked significant backlash from voting rights organizations, which argued that the governor's decision unfairly targeted eligible voters. In response, the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights and the League of Women Voters of Virginia filed a lawsuit on October 7, claiming that the state's approach to voter removal was both illegal and systematic.
The League of Women Voters stated that the lawsuit centers on the policy of removing voters from registration lists. The Department of Justice, also involved in the lawsuit, contends that Virginia's actions violate federal law by removing alleged non-citizens during the critical 90-day period leading up to the November election, which began on the same day Youngkin enacted his order.
Youngkin responded shortly after the lawsuit was filed, standing firm on his position despite the timing being close to Election Day. He argued that the situation was misrepresented, emphasizing that it was not a broad removal of voters but rather a specific case involving individuals who identified themselves as non-citizens. In an interview with ABC13, he questioned how someone could claim non-citizen status at the DMV and still be allowed to vote in a presidential election.
The lawsuit reached a federal judge, who ruled against Youngkin on October 25, reinstating the voter registrations that had been revoked. Youngkin criticized this decision and announced plans to appeal to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. He expressed concern over the timing of the ruling, which came just eleven days before the presidential election, and highlighted that many of the reinstated individuals had previously confirmed their non-citizen status through immigration documents.
Youngkin pointed out that Virginia law, established in 2006, includes specific procedures for removing non-citizens from voter rolls while ensuring protections for citizens. This law has been consistently applied in presidential elections for nearly two decades, regardless of the party in power. He stated that Virginia would seek an emergency stay of the injunction from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and potentially the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
Virginia's Attorney General, Jason Miyares, issued a statement expressing his opposition to the ruling, asserting that the judge's decision was influenced by political motives. He emphasized that it should never be deemed illegal to remove individuals who are not eligible to vote.
criticized the court's order, which, he claims, was prompted by the Biden-Harris Department of Justice, to reinstate the names of non-citizens on the voter rolls just days before the presidential election. He described this action as a politically charged maneuver, noting that it undermines a process established 18 years ago by a Democratic governor and previously sanctioned by the Department of Justice in 2006.
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