DOJ Sues Virginia For Violating Federal Election Law

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it has sued the state of Virginia for violating the federal prohibition on systematic efforts to remove voters within 90 days of an election, Jasper Ward reported for Reuters.

The suit stems from Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin having signed an executive order requiring the commissioner of the Department of Elections to certify that the department was conducting "daily updates to the voter list." I Photo: Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin

On August 7, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order requiring the commissioner of the Department of Elections to certify that the department was conducting "daily updates to the voter list" to remove, among other groups, people who are unable to verify their citizenship with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

US citizens who were identified and notified but did not affirm their citizenship within 14 days would be removed from the list of registered voters, the Justice Department stated.

It said this practice has resulted in citizens having their voter registrations canceled ahead of the November 5 election.

"By canceling voter registrations within 90 days of Election Day, Virginia places qualified voters in jeopardy of being removed from the rolls and creates the risk of confusion for the electorate," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.