Court ruling or official DOJ announcement

DOJ Sues Youngkin Over 18-Year-Old Virginia Voter Roll Law, 6,300 Noncitizens Found

Oct 20, 2024, 02:58 PM

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Virginia over a voter roll-culling order issued by Governor Glenn Youngkin. The law, which has been in effect for 18 years and was initially approved by the DOJ's civil rights division under then-governor Tim Kaine, aims to ensure that Virginia's voter rolls do not include noncitizens. Virginia Lt. Governor Winsome Sears revealed that over 6,300 noncitizens and individuals who have been dead since 1960 were found on the voter rolls. The DOJ's lawsuit argues that the removal of voters close to elections violates federal law. Governor Youngkin and Lt. Governor Sears have criticized the lawsuit, stating that the law has been applied universally by both Republican and Democrat governors. They also noted that the lawsuit comes as the political climate in Virginia is getting tight.