The Justice Department has sued Alabama over its efforts to remove non-citizens from voter rolls, arguing the action was taken too close to an upcoming election, in violation of the National Voter Registration Act. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen initiated the move in August, identifying over 3,000 individuals with non-citizen identification numbers, and sending letters to confirm their status. The DOJ claims this caused confusion for eligible voters and violated federal law by taking place within 90 days of the election.
Allen defended the effort, stating it was essential to ensure non-citizens do not participate in Alabama’s elections, and assured that citizens would still be able to vote. In response, the DOJ demands Alabama send remedial mailings to clarify the voting status of eligible individuals and train local officials to prevent further confusion. This follows a recent case where an illegal immigrant was charged with using a fake identity to vote in Alabama in the 2016 and 2020 elections.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the importance of preventing voter confusion and safeguarding democratic processes. Allen remains firm that his actions were crucial to maintaining the integrity of Alabama’s voter rolls.
