DOJ files lawsuit against Alabama over removal of noncitizens from voter rolls

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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday that it is suing Alabama for its efforts to remove noncitizens from voter registration lists. The DOJ contends that Alabama's actions come too close to the upcoming presidential election in November. The lawsuit seeks a federal judge's order to reinstate the names of presumed ineligible voters to active status, as some citizens reportedly received notifications indicating they had been moved to an inactive voter file.

Central to the DOJ's case is the timing of Alabama's announcement, which was made 84 days before the election. This may conflict with the National Voter Registration Act, which prohibits the removal of names from voting lists within 90 days of an election. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated that this lawsuit serves as a cautionary measure for other states and emphasized the importance of addressing voter confusion in Alabama.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen reported that his office, utilizing data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, identified 3,251 individuals as potential noncitizen voters. He acknowledged the possibility that some of these individuals may have gained citizenship since being flagged. In response to the lawsuit, Allen reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that only American citizens participate in elections, while Clarke noted that some individuals classified as noncitizens were born in the United States, suggesting inaccuracies in Allen's claims.