On October 17, 2024, Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) introduced the National Motor Voter Clarification Act, a bill aimed at allowing states to remove illegal immigrants from their voter rolls at any time. The proposed legislation seeks to amend federal law, which currently prohibits such removals within 90 days of an election.
This initiative follows a lawsuit filed by the Biden administration against Virginia, accusing the state of unlawfully purging its voter rolls of potential noncitizens ahead of the upcoming November election. The Justice Department had previously challenged Alabama officials for similar actions.
Gaetz stated, "I agree with the governor that removing non-Americans from voter rolls is 'common sense and constitutional.'" He emphasized that the bill would empower governors to act without fear of repercussions from federal authorities.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) had issued an executive order to eliminate voters who registered as noncitizens on DMV forms, which was initiated 90 days before the election. This order requires local election officials to notify these voters to confirm their citizenship within 14 days or face removal.
Voter integrity has emerged as a significant issue for Republicans in the 2024 election cycle, with former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) advocating for stricter measures. Their SAVE Act aims to address concerns over potential illegal voting, although it has yet to progress in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Current federal law mandates that voter registration forms require individuals to affirm their citizenship under penalty of perjury. However, some Republicans argue that existing regulations do not provide sufficient scrutiny regarding voter eligibility.