SCOTUS Rolls Back Voter Protection

[TC Talks]

I would think this was expected given the make up of the courts.

Just six days before Election Day, the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed Virginia to continue its purge of more than 1,600 individuals from the state's voter rolls.

The vote was 6 to 3, along ideological lines, with liberal Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting.

On Aug. 7, exactly 90 days before Election Day, Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order expediting the removal of noncitizens from the state's voter rolls. The state maintained that the program only removed those who were ineligible to vote due to lack of citizenship.

In early October, the Justice Department and advocacy groups sued, contending that the state had in fact purged at least some eligible voters and that it did so in violation of a federal law that bars systematic removals from voting rolls in the 90 days prior to an election. Specifically, the 1993 National Voter Registration Act creates a “quiet period” within 90 days of a federal election. During those 90 days, states are prohibited from “systematic[ally]” removing “ineligible voters” from the rolls because of the increased possibility of errors.

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I would think this was expected given the make up of the courts.

Just six days before Election Day, the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed Virginia to continue its purge of more than 1,600 individuals from the state's voter rolls.

The vote was 6 to 3, along ideological lines, with liberal Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting.

On Aug. 7, exactly 90 days before Election Day, Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order expediting the removal of noncitizens from the state's voter rolls. The state maintained that the program only removed those who were ineligible to vote due to lack of citizenship.

In early October, the Justice Department and advocacy groups sued, contending that the state had in fact purged at least some eligible voters and that it did so in violation of a federal law that bars systematic removals from voting rolls in the 90 days prior to an election. Specifically, the 1993 National Voter Registration Act creates a “quiet period” within 90 days of a federal election. During those 90 days, states are prohibited from “systematic[ally]” removing “ineligible voters” from the rolls because of the increased possibility of errors.

Fortunately Virginia won’t be close.

[MWmetalhead]

Noncitizens are not entitled to vote. I think SCOTUS got this one right.

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Noncitizens are not entitled to vote. I think SCOTUS got this one right.

The thing is that within 90 days they aren’t supposed to make changes like this under federal law and it doesn’t sound like they are being careful. It opens other Republican controlled states to not be careful. Voter integrity isn’t the goal here… it’s find as many excuses to kick potential Democrats off as possible.

This is born out in GOP states pulling out of ERIC which allows them to cross-reference registrations with other states and prevent fraud is exhibit A of how much they don’t actually care about this.

[craig11152]

I still get voter mail, applications for an absentee ballot, from the city of Ann Arbor addressed to the people I bought the house from in 1994. Seems to me if somebody hasn't voted locally in 30 years they should be purged from the system. If for no other reason to save the cost (tax payer funded) of printing and mailing useless paperwork.

[MWmetalhead]

Noncitizens are not entitled to vote. I think SCOTUS got this one right.

The thing is that within 90 days they aren’t supposed to make changes like this under federal law and it doesn’t sound like they are being careful. It opens other Republican controlled states to not be careful. Voter integrity isn’t the goal here… it’s find as many excuses to kick potential Democrats off as possible.

This is born out in GOP states pulling out of ERIC which allows them to cross-reference registrations with other states and prevent fraud is exhibit A of how much they don’t actually care about this.

The 90 day requirement was met. We're talking persons representing less than 0.03% of registered voters in the state.

If the number were much larger, say 50,000, then more scrutiny as to motives would be very much warranted.

[Rate This]

Noncitizens are not entitled to vote. I think SCOTUS got this one right.

The thing is that within 90 days they aren’t supposed to make changes like this under federal law and it doesn’t sound like they are being careful. It opens other Republican controlled states to not be careful. Voter integrity isn’t the goal here… it’s find as many excuses to kick potential Democrats off as possible.

This is born out in GOP states pulling out of ERIC which allows them to cross-reference registrations with other states and prevent fraud is exhibit A of how much they don’t actually care about this.

The 90 day requirement was met. We're talking persons representing less than 0.03% of registered voters in the state.

If the number were much larger, say 50,000, then more scrutiny as to motives would be very much warranted.

This is true. My question I guess is does this set a precedent that a swingier state where 0.03% could matter could follow between now and next week? If so that may have been the point.

I would also point out that some citizens were removed. Here’s one story… one is too many:
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/29/nx-s1-51 ... oter-purge

As for the 90 Day period. It began on August 7 and Youngkins order was issued that day. Seems cut and dry to me. Fortunately in Virginia anyone who was erroneously removed can head to the polls and register on the day of thanks to same day registration.

For Republican states to exit ERIC which exists to help prevent fraud and situations like this from being needed all while screaming about how much fraud ostensibly occurs is absurd.

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

Yeah, and how about the legal voters who are purged? I am surprised to hear MW agrees with this.