US Sues Alabama for Alleged Violation of Voter Rights Law, Reports Reuters

The U.S. Justice Department announced on Friday that it has filed a lawsuit against Alabama over its initiative to remove non-citizens from the state’s election rolls. The department argues that the program infringes on federal law due to its timing, as it was implemented less than three months before the elections scheduled for November 5.

In mid-August, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen revealed a plan to identify and remove individuals he claimed were non-citizens registered to vote, citing more than 3,200 such cases.

The Justice Department stated that the “Quiet Period Provision” of federal law was designed to protect eligible voters from being removed from registration lists due to last-minute actions that may be prone to errors. This provision mandates that states complete systematic removal programs for ineligible voters at least 90 days before federal elections.

According to the Justice Department’s review, both native-born and naturalized U.S. citizens have received notifications indicating that their voter records are inactive and that they are at risk of being removed from Alabama’s voter registration list.

In response to the lawsuit, Allen emphasized his responsibility as Secretary of State to ensure that only American citizens participate in elections.

The upcoming November 5 elections will include votes for the presidency, as well as for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Former President Donald Trump, a Republican, is set to face Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in what polls predict will be a closely contested race for the White House.