On October 12, 2024, the United States Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the state of Virginia, challenging the removal of voters from registration rolls that occurred too close to the presidential election scheduled for November 5. This lawsuit follows an executive order from Virginia's Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, issued on August 7, which allowed the removal of individuals from voter registration lists if their citizenship could not be verified by the state's Department of Motor Vehicles.
The Justice Department argues that the executive order violates a 90-day 'quiet period' mandated by The National Voter Registration Act, designed to prevent last-minute removals that could disenfranchise eligible voters. Assistant US Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the importance of protecting voting rights as fundamental to democracy.
Governor Youngkin defended the executive order, asserting it was lawful and necessary for election security. He accused the Justice Department of attempting to undermine the legitimacy of elections in Virginia. The lawsuit emerges amid heightened Republican claims of potential election fraud, despite a lack of evidence supporting these assertions. Such claims have been a recurring theme since the 2020 presidential election.
As the 2024 elections approach, several states have enacted stricter voter registration laws, raising concerns among democracy advocates about the potential disenfranchisement of eligible voters.