Supreme Court Halts Virginia Ruling, Prevents 1600 Voters from Being Reinstated Ahead of Election

Supreme Court Halts Virginia Ruling

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court intervened in a significant case involving Virginia's voter rolls, temporarily halting a lower court's order that required the state to reinstate approximately 1,600 individuals flagged as potential noncitizens. This decision represents a victory for Governor Glenn Youngkin and follows Virginia's emergency appeal to the Supreme Court to challenge the lower court ruling.

The central issue at stake is whether Virginia's voter removal process violates the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which mandates a 90-day quiet period before federal elections during which states cannot engage in systematic voter roll maintenance. The Department of Justice argues that Virginia's removals were conducted too close to the November 5 elections, thus breaching the NVRA's provisions.

Virginia's voter roll maintenance program was launched in August and involves comparing lists of self-identified noncitizens from the Department of Motor Vehicles with registered voters. Those identified as noncitizens were notified that their registrations would be canceled unless they could provide proof of citizenship within 14 days. The Justice Department's lawsuit claims this process could lead to eligible voters being disenfranchised without adequate notice.

Zevo Flying Insect Trap for Indoors: Light Trap Captures Fruit Flies, Gnats and

Buy Now

In response, Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares contends that the NVRA does not apply to self-identified noncitizens and asserts that the state's removal process is individualized and legally compliant. This argument seeks to narrow the interpretation of the NVRA compared to the Justice Department's broader reading.

Additionally, 26 Republican-led states submitted an amicus brief supporting Virginia's position, arguing that the state's voter removal process aligns with legal standards and that the Justice Department's interpretation is overly broad. They urged the Supreme Court to grant Virginia's emergency motion, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the state's voting process and ensuring that noncitizens do not participate in elections.

Supreme Court Halts Virginia Ruling, Prevents 1600 Voters from Being Reinstated Ahead of Election