The U.S. Justice Department has taken legal action against Alabama and its top election official, Secretary of State Wes Allen, accusing the state of unlawfully removing voters from its rolls too close to the upcoming general election.
While states may remove individuals from voter registration lists under certain circumstances—such as if a person requests it, has died, or has been convicted of certain crimes—the National Voter Registration Act imposes a “quiet period” for most states. This rule prevents states like Alabama from systematically removing names less than 90 days before a federal election.
On August 13, just 84 days before the Election Day, Secretary Allen announced a plan targeting “noncitizens” registered to vote in Alabama. This initiative led to the identification of 3,251 registered voters who had been issued noncitizen identification numbers by the Department of Homeland Security, prompting county officials to remove them from the voter rolls.
In his announcement, Allen acknowledged that some individuals who were issued noncitizen IDs had since become naturalized citizens and were thus eligible to vote, allowing them to update their voter registrations accordingly.
However, the Justice Department has criticized this initiative as a “systematic voter removal program” that risks disenfranchising U.S. citizens, whether born in the country or naturalized.
Individuals affected, including those who received notifications regarding their registration status, express concern about losing their voting rights. One Alabama voter reported being flagged and warned of potential removal from the statewide voter list.
In response to the lawsuit, Secretary Allen refrained from commenting on the specifics of the Justice Department’s action.
Moreover, Alabama is currently facing another lawsuit filed by voting rights advocates and citizens, aiming to challenge these voter removal practices.
Allen previously stated that he would not yield to perceived threats from advocacy groups, emphasizing his commitment to preventing noncitizens from remaining on Alabama’s voter rolls. This initiative aligns with a broader trend among Republicans nationwide advocating for stricter measures against non-U.S. citizens voting, despite evidence showing that instances of noncitizen voting are exceedingly rare.
