A federal judge has stepped in to halt Alabama’s controversial voter purge program, which had rendered thousands of legal voters inactive ahead of the November 2024 elections. This decision comes after U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco ruled in favor of the Department of Justice and civil rights groups, restoring active registration status to both American-born and naturalized citizens affected by the program.
The Program’s Origins and Legal Challenges
In August, Alabama’s Secretary of State, Wes Allen, initiated a program aimed at identifying and removing noncitizens registered to vote. The state used foreign national numbers obtained from agencies involved in unemployment benefits and driver’s license applications to flag potential noncitizens. The program identified 3,251 voters who were subsequently made inactive. Although this action did not immediately remove individuals from voter rolls, it did require them to provide additional verification to vote.
However, the Department of Justice and several civil rights groups quickly filed a lawsuit, asserting that the program violated federal law, which prohibits systematic voter roll purges within 90 days of a federal election. Judge Manasco agreed, ruling that the program violated the law and resulted in thousands of legal voters being improperly categorized as inactive.
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A Flawed Program with Wide-Reaching Consequences
Testimony from the Secretary of State’s office revealed that approximately 2,000 of the 3,251 voters initially purged were, in fact, legally registered citizens. By September, 900 voters had proven their legal status, and an additional 1,000 were reinstated following a verification of driver’s license information. Despite this, 159 voters were permanently disqualified from voting, with some mistakenly removed due to confusing instructions.
Judge Manasco emphasized the program’s detrimental impact, highlighting that it caused “irreparable harm” to legal voters who were wrongly flagged for potential criminal investigation by the Alabama Attorney General’s office. The judge ordered immediate corrective measures, including educating election officials and issuing public updates to ensure voters are fully aware of their status before Election Day.
Impact on Future Elections
While the preliminary injunction only extends through the November 2024 election, the ruling delivers a powerful message about the importance of protecting voting rights. Michelle Canter Coen, senior counsel for the Fair Election Center, praised the decision as a victory for naturalized citizens and legal voters, stating, “When a state sends out a message like this, it harms the entire electorate.”
Secretary Allen, who has defended the program as part of his duty to prevent voter fraud, declined to comment on the ruling, citing ongoing litigation.
Ensuring Fair Elections
This ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing national debate over voter rights and election security. With the November 2024 elections approaching, the spotlight remains on Alabama’s election procedures and the broader implications of similar programs across the country.
