Federal judge orders Virginia to restore more than 1,600 voter registrations

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A FEDERAL JUDGE RULED FRIDAY VIRGINIA MUST RESTORE MORE THAN 16-HUNDRED VOTER REGISTRATIONS SHE SAYS WERE ILLEGALLY REMOVED IN AN EFFORT TO STOP NONCITIZENS FROM VOTING.

JUDGE PATRICIA TOLLIVER GILES ORDER OVERTURNS GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN’S EXECUTIVE ORDER IN AUGUST THAT PURGED SUSPECTED NONCITIZENS FROM VOTER ROLLS THROUGH DAILY D-M-V RECORDS CHECKS.

LETTERS WILL NOW BE SENT OUT WITHIN FIVE DAYS TELLING VOTERS OF THEIR RE-ESTABLISHED RIGHTS AND INCLUDE WARNINGS THAT NONCITIZENS ARE BARRED FROM VOTING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

GILES SIDED WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER GROUPS WHO FILED THE LAWSUIT. RULING VIRGINIA BROKE FEDERAL LAW, WHICH BARS SYSTEMIC REMOVAL OF VOTERS FROM ROLLS 90 DAYS BEFORE A FEDERAL ELECTION.

SHE SAID VOTER REMOVAL MUST ONLY BE DONE ON AN INDIVIDUAL-BASIS SO CLOSE TO ELECTION DAY.

VIRGINIA OFFICIALS HAD ARGUED THEY FOLLOWED TIGHT PROCEDURES, TARGETING PEOPLE WHO CLEARLY IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS NONCITIZENS THROUGH D-M-V RECORDS.

THE PLAINTIFFS CONTENDED MANY PEOPLE WERE WRONGLY ACCUSED OF BEING NONCITIZENS BY THE D-M-V BY CHECKING THE WRONG BOX ON THE FORM.

THEY DIDN’T PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE NUMBER OF CASES BUT GAVE MORE THAN A DOZEN ANECDOTAL INSTANCES.

YOUNGKIN RESPONDED TO THE JUDGE’S ORDER, IN A STATEMENT, SAYING:

“LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED: ONLY ELEVEN DAYS BEFORE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, A FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERED VIRGINIA TO REINSTATE OVER 15-HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS– WHO SELF-IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS NONCITIZENS– BACK ONTO THE VOTER ROLLS.”

STATE OFFICIALS VOWED TO APPEAL THE RULING.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.