Alabama faces a legal challenge over its voter re-registration policy targeting naturalized citizens, sparking a heated debate on election integrity and voting rights.
At a Glance
- Several advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against Alabama over a voter roll purge targeting naturalized citizens
- The policy requires voters with noncitizen identification numbers to re-register, affecting over 3,000 individuals
- Plaintiffs argue the policy violates the National Voter Registration Act and discriminates against naturalized citizens
- State officials defend the policy as necessary to ensure only eligible participants vote in elections
- The lawsuit seeks a federal injunction to halt the policy before the November presidential election
Lawsuit Challenges Alabama’s Voter Purge Program
A coalition of advocacy groups has taken legal action against Alabama’s Secretary of State Wes Allen and Attorney General Steve Marshall over a controversial voter roll purge program. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, contends that the state’s new policy requiring voters who were given noncitizen identification numbers by the Department of Homeland Security to re-register to vote is discriminatory and violates federal law.
The program, aimed at removing over 3,000 voters from the rolls, has come under fire for allegedly targeting Alabama’s immigrant population and impeding their ability to exercise voting rights. Critics argue that the policy places an undue burden on eligible voters, particularly naturalized citizens, and may result in the disenfranchisement of lawful voters.
Advocacy groups sue Alabama over voter roll purge https://t.co/Q0WjLsy4oq
— The Hill (@thehill) September 15, 2024
Legal Grounds and Plaintiffs’ Arguments
The lawsuit claims that the voter purge program violates the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Constitution, and the Voting Rights Act. Plaintiffs argue that the policy unfairly targets naturalized citizens and forces them to re-register to vote even if they are lawfully registered. The legal action seeks a federal injunction to stop the implementation of the policy before the November presidential election.
“No American citizen should be denied their freedom to vote, and all Americans have the same freedom to vote regardless of where they were born. Instead of protecting Americans’ freedom to vote in the November election, Alabama is shamefully intimidating naturalized citizens and illegally purging qualified Americans from voter rolls,” said Paul Smith, senior vice president of Campaign Legal Center, one of the advocacy groups.
The lawsuit also alleges that some eligible voters, including U.S.-born citizens, were mistakenly added to the purge list due to false information. This has raised concerns about the accuracy and fairness of the program’s implementation.
State Officials’ Stance and Response
Alabama state officials, including Secretary of State Wes Allen, have defended the policy as essential for ensuring only eligible participants vote in elections. Allen has previously stated, “I have been clear that I will not tolerate the participation of noncitizens in our elections.” However, the communications director for Allen’s office has declined to comment on the pending litigation, stating that they had not yet been served with the lawsuit.
The Alabama Attorney General’s office has reportedly received the list of individuals targeted by the purge for further investigation and possible prosecution. This move has intensified concerns among voting rights advocates about the potential criminalization of eligible voters.
Broader Implications and Criticism
The lawsuit against Alabama’s voter purge program is part of a broader trend of Republican lawmakers tightening voting requirements across the country. Critics argue that such measures, while ostensibly aimed at preventing voter fraud, may actually suppress legitimate voter participation, particularly among minority and immigrant communities.
“Alabama is targeting its growing immigrant population through a voter purge intended to intimidate and disenfranchise naturalized citizens”
Research indicates that noncitizen voting is extremely rare, with a 2017 report finding only 30 incidents out of 23.5 million votes studied. This has led some to question the necessity and proportionality of Alabama’s aggressive voter purge program.
As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome of this case could have significant implications for voting rights and election integrity policies not only in Alabama but potentially across the United States. The court’s decision will likely be closely watched by both advocates for stricter voter identification measures and those fighting against what they perceive as voter suppression tactics.
