Federal judge blocks voting purge in Alabama weeks before election

[Craig Nigrelli]

A RULING BY A FEDERAL JUDGE IN ALABAMA COULD AFFECT THOUSANDS OF VOTERS IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.  U.S DISTRICT JUDGE ANNA MANASCO ISSUED A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST A VOTER PURGING PROGRAM,  THAT HAD BEEN SPEARHEADED BY ALABAMA SECRETARY OF STATE WES ALLEN. 

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS HAD SUED ALLEN, CLAIMING THE PROGRAM VIOLATED A LAW THAT BARS SYSTEMIC REMOVAL OF NAMES FROM VOTER ROLLS 90 DAYS BEFORE A FEDERAL ELECTION. 

BACK IN AUGUST, THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE IDENTIFIED 3251 **POTENTIAL**  NON-CITIZENS WHO WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE.  THE OFFICE USED INFORMATION COLLECTED BY STATE AGENCIES ON BOTH UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND DRIVER’S LICENSE APPLICATIONS.  HE THEN TOLD LOCAL ELECTIONS OFFICES TO MAKE THOSE VOTERS INACTIVE, WHICH REQUIRES THE PERSON TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL VERIFICATION BEFORE VOTING.   ACCORDING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S CHIEF OF STAFF, 2000 OF THOSE VOTERS, WERE LEGALLY REGISTERED CITIZENS.

JUDGE MANASCO RULED THAT ALLEN’S OFFICE QUOTE “blew the deadline for the 2024 general election with real consequences for thousands of Alabamians who the Secretary now acknowledges are in fact legally entitled to vote. “

THE INACTIVE LIST WAS ALSO GIVEN TO THE ALABAMA ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR POSSIBLE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.  THE JUDGE SAID THAT COULD CAUSE IRREPARABLE HARM TO INNOCENT VOTERS.

THE JUDGE ALSO SAID THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS ALLOWED REMOVE INELIGIBLE VOTERS IN ADVANCE OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, AS LONG AS IT’S NOT PART OF THIS SPECIFIC PROGRAM.  THE LAWYER FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE STATED THE REMOVAL WAS ONLY A SLIGHT INCONVENIENCE FOR LEGALLY REGISTERED VOTERS.   FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS AP