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Writer's pictureLynn Matthews

Supreme Court Decision Paves Way for Virginia’s Voter Roll Purge Days Before Election


In a pivotal decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted Virginia to continue its removal of around 1,600 alleged noncitizens from its voter rolls just days before the 2024 election. The decision overturns an earlier district court order that had temporarily blocked Virginia from proceeding with the purge, launched in August to meet National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) requirements for list updates to conclude at least 90 days before federal elections.


Under federal law, only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections, making noncitizen voting a point of significant scrutiny and legal enforcement. Virginia officials argued that the lower court’s order directly interfered with the state’s right and responsibility to maintain accurate and lawful voter lists, asserting that it was also a matter of “common sense.”


The Supreme Court’s decision was split, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting. The Department of Justice expressed concern about the ruling, stating it brought the lawsuit to ensure every eligible American’s voting rights.


Virginia officials welcomed the Supreme Court’s approval, emphasizing that removing ineligible voters was essential for election integrity and stability in the days leading up to the election.


Governor Glen Younkin took to X to write, "We are pleased by the Supreme Court’s order today. This is a victory for commonsense and election fairness. I am grateful for the work of Attorney General @JasonMiyaresVA on this critical fight to protect the fundamental rights of U.S. citizens. Clean voter rolls are one important part of a comprehensive approach we are taking to ensure the fairness of our elections. Virginians also know that we have paper ballots, counting machines not connected to the internet, a strong chain of custody process, signature verification, monitored and secured drop boxes, and a 'triple check' vote counting process to tabulate results. Virginians can cast their ballots on Election Day knowing that Virginia’s elections are fair, secure, and free from politically-motivated interference."

Despite being a big win for citizens concerned about voter integrity, Marc Elias of Democracy Docket had a different opinion, claiming, "U.S. Supreme Court reinstates Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's voter purge program. This only affects a small number of people but is a wrongheaded decision in light of clear federal law."

As Virginia moves forward with its voter roll purge, the Supreme Court’s decision underscores the balance between election integrity efforts and voter access. While state officials argue that removing ineligible voters strengthens public trust in the electoral process, opponents raise concerns about potential overreach and the risk of mistakenly disenfranchising eligible voters close to a critical election. The move, coming just days before Election Day, highlights the ongoing nationwide tension over voter roll maintenance and the complexities of ensuring secure and accessible elections. This ruling, alongside diverging public opinion, reflects the broader debate on how best to safeguard democratic participation without compromising accuracy in voter eligibility.


"He leads me in the path of righteousness for his namesake"

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