The Division of Justice sued the State of Alabama and its high election official, alleging that they’d eliminated voters who had beforehand been issued noncitizen identification numbers from its election rolls too near election day.
Noncitizen identification numbers are a tax-processing quantity issued by the Inner Income Service (IRS) to make sure that folks—together with undocumented immigrants—pay taxes. Together with paying taxes, noncitizen identification numbers can present authorized migrants with securing a driver’s license and offering proof of residency.
After being sworn into workplace in January, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen set to work to determine and take away 3,251 people who’re registered to vote in Alabama who’ve been issued noncitizen identification numbers by the Division of Homeland Safety.
“I’ve been clear that I cannot tolerate the participation of noncitizens in our elections,” Allen beforehand mentioned in a launch. “I’ve even gone as far as to testify earlier than a United States Senate Committee concerning the significance of this challenge. We now have examined the present voter file in an try and determine anybody who seems on that checklist that has been issued a noncitizen identification quantity.”
ALABAMA ELECTION OFFICIALS SAYS BIDEN EXECUTIVE ORDER GIVES ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ‘MECHANISM’ TO REGISTER TO VOTE
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, testify throughout a listening to earlier than the Senate Guidelines and Administration Committee at Russell Senate Workplace Constructing on Capitol Hill on March 12, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Photos)
Now, the DOJ is pushing again and has filed a lawsuit in opposition to Alabama and Allen.
The company argued that Allen violated the Nationwide Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), which requires states to finish any adjustments to the voter registration lists no later than 90 days earlier than federal elections.
Allen carried out the adjustments 84 days earlier than, the DOJ alleged.
Indicators directing voters are seen outdoors a polling place on March 5, 2024, in Mountain Brook, Alabama. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Photos)
“The appropriate to vote is without doubt one of the most sacred rights in our democracy,” Assistant Legal professional Basic Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division mentioned in an announcement. “As Election Day approaches, it’s vital that Alabama redress voter confusion ensuing from its checklist upkeep mailings despatched in violation of federal legislation.
ALABAMA SECRETARY OF STATE ALLEN ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL FROM VOTER REGISTRATION GROUP
The DOJ additionally alleged that Allen’s removing of voter registration additionally impacted natural-born residents who had been incorrectly recognized as potential noncitizens.
The Division of Justice seals is seen throughout a information convention on the DOJ workplace in Washington, Might 16, 2023. (AP Picture/Jose Luis Magana)
The Justice Division seeks injunctive reduction that “would restore the power of impacted eligible voters to vote unimpeded on Election Day,” the division mentioned in an announcement.
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“The division additionally seeks remedial mailings to teach eligible voters in regards to the restoration of their rights and ample coaching of native officers and ballot staff to deal with confusion and mistrust amongst eligible voters accused of being noncitizens,” the company mentioned.
Reached for remark late Saturday night time, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen advised Fox Information Digital, “I used to be elected Secretary of State by the folks of Alabama, and it’s my Constitutional obligation to make sure that solely Americans vote in our elections.
“As to the query concerning the Division of Justice’s lawsuit, this workplace doesn’t touch upon pending litigation the place the Secretary of State is a named defendant.”
