Court rulings and official statements from the U.S. Department of Justice

DOJ Sues Alabama and Secretary Wes Allen for Violating Voter Purge Law Ahead of Election

Sep 28, 2024, 02:48 PM

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Alabama and its Secretary of State Wes Allen, alleging that the state's efforts to remove voters from registration rolls violated the National Voter Registration Act's prohibition on systematic purges within 90 days of an election. Alabama initiated the program 84 days before the November 5 general election, aiming to remove certain individuals from voter rolls. The DOJ contends that this action is illegal under federal law and could lead to voter confusion, noting that some eligible U.S. citizens may have been improperly included in the purge. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the importance of adhering to federal statutes as Election Day approaches. The state reportedly removed less than 4,000 individuals from the active voter rolls.