The Justice Division is suing the state of Alabama and its prime elections official, alleging they eliminated voters beforehand issued noncitizen identification numbers from its voter rolls too near Election Day.
Non-citizen identification numbers are a tax processing quantity issued by the Inside Income Service (IRS) to make sure that folks—together with undocumented immigrants—pay taxes.
Together with paying taxes, non-citizen identification numbers can present authorized migrants with a driver’s license and proof of residency.
After being sworn into workplace in January, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen set to work to determine and take away the three,251 folks registered to vote in Alabama who had been issued non-citizen identification numbers by the Division of Homeland Safety.
“I’ve been clear that I can’t tolerate non-citizens taking part in our elections,” Allen stated earlier in edition. “I even went as far as to testify earlier than a United States Senate committee on the significance of this situation. We’ve checked the present electoral roll in an try and determine anybody on this listing who has been issued a non-citizen identification quantity.
Now the Justice Division is backing down and has filed go well with towards Alabama and Allen.
The company alleged that Allen violated the Nationwide Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), which requires states to make all modifications to voter registration rolls no later than 90 days earlier than a federal election.
Allen carried out the modifications 84 days prior, the DOJ alleged.
“The best to vote is among the most sacred rights in our democracy,” Assistant Legal professional Common Kristen Clark of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division stated in a press release. “As Election Day approaches, it’s vital that Alabama corrects voter confusion ensuing from listing help letters despatched in violation of federal legislation.
The Justice Division additionally argued that Allen’s elimination of voter registration additionally affected natural-born residents who had been misidentified as potential noncitizens.
The Justice Division is looking for a court docket order that “would restore the flexibility of affected voters to vote with out hindrance on Election Day,” the division stated in a press release.
“The division can also be looking for remedial letters to coach eligible voters about restoring their rights and adequately prepare native officers and election officers to deal with confusion and distrust amongst eligible voters accused of being non-citizens,” the company stated.
Reached for remark late Saturday night time, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen instructed Fox Information Digital: “I used to be elected Secretary of State by the folks of Alabama and it’s my constitutional responsibility to make sure that solely Americans vote in our elections.
“Relating to the matter concerning the Division of Justice case, this workplace doesn’t touch upon pending litigation wherein the Secretary of State is called as a defendant.”
