A federal judge has ordered Alabama's Secretary of State Office to stop removing supposed noncitizens from the state's voter rolls right before the election.

The program, according to the judge, wrongly removed thousands, including lawful citizens, just weeks ahead of the 2024 election, violating the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), as the Washington Examiner reports.

The order was issued by Judge Anna Manasco, focusing on the actions of Secretary of State Wes Allen. Allen had initiated a program to clean up the voter rolls by targeting individuals believed to be noncitizens.

However, this effort faced significant legal challenges due to its timing and execution.

Under NVRA, systematic voter removal is prohibited within 90 days before an election. Allen’s efforts commenced 84 days before the upcoming election, leading to the court's intervention.

Federal Court Intervenes

Court documents revealed that notices were sent in August to more than 3,200 voters. These notices claimed they had alien registration numbers, indicating potential noncitizen status, and they risked being marked inactive unless they proved their citizenship.

The use of alien registration numbers raised issues. These numbers, assigned by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are meant for noncitizens. However, recipients sometimes become citizens over time, complicating the accuracy of Allen’s efforts.

Secretary Allen indicated a lack of cooperation from DHS concerning naturalization statuses. This issue further contributed to the wrongful deactivation of voters who were citizens.

Legal and Administrative Challenges Emerge

The rise of these complications drew the attention of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ took legal action, accusing Allen of systematically and wrongly removing legitimate voters. Their lawsuit highlighted the significant impact on Alabama citizens who found themselves mistakenly purged.

Information from court records pointed to a troubling development—approximately 2,000 citizens were mistakenly removed. These individuals were forced to re-register in order to participate in the electoral process.

Personal testimonies have underscored these administrative errors. One Alabama citizen filed a statement asserting he never had an alien registration number and was always a U.S. citizen.

Virginia Faces Similar Legal Action

Alabama is not the only state facing legal scrutiny for such voter purge efforts. The Department of Justice has also sued Virginia for executing a similar program. Virginia's program has been criticized for its approach towards noncitizen identification and for alleged NVRA violations.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vowed to oppose the legal action. He defended the program as longstanding, asserting its legitimacy and compliance with federal requirements.

Responses from Affected Individuals in Alabama

Despite the legal challenges, some individuals in Alabama volunteered to be removed from the rolls. At least 106 people openly acknowledged their ineligibility to vote by requesting removal.

These voluntary removals provide a contrasting perspective to the majority who were removed erroneously. The process underscores complexities in accurately updating voter rolls without infringing on citizens' rights.

This legal action against Alabama showcases the broader dialogue on maintaining secure and accurate voter registration systems. It also highlights the balance needed between preventing voter fraud and ensuring citizens' rights are not violated.

Conclusion: Broader Implications for Voter Registration

In summary, the recent court order stopping Alabama’s voter purge program underscores the essential importance of federal laws like the NVRA in protecting voter rights. The lawsuit against Secretary of State Wes Allen reveals the consequences of inaccurate voter roll purges. This case in Alabama, mirrored by events in Virginia, signifies a critical juncture in the national conversation on voter registration system integrity.

Both states highlight the delicate balance between upholding electoral integrity and respecting citizens' voting rights. It serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in modernizing voter registration processes while adhering to established legal frameworks.