A federal judge ruled on Sunday that Iowa has the authority to challenge the validity of hundreds of ballots from potential noncitizens, despite concerns raised by critics about the impact on the voting rights of recently naturalized citizens.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher, who was appointed by President Biden, sided with the state in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union in Des Moines, Iowa, on behalf of the League of Latin American Citizens of Iowa and four recently naturalized citizens. The four individuals were among those listed as questionable registrations to be reviewed by local elections officials.
The state's attorney general and secretary of state argued that investigating and potentially removing 2,000 names would help prevent illegal voting by noncitizens. This move aligns with the stance of GOP officials nationwide, who have highlighted possible voting by noncitizen immigrants as a significant issue in the current election cycle.
Referring to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed Virginia to proceed with a similar voter registration purge, Locher emphasized that Iowa's efforts do not involve removing anyone from the voter rolls. Instead, the process requires certain voters to use provisional ballots, ensuring that their votes are still counted while their eligibility is further verified.
The ruling by Judge Locher underscores the ongoing debate surrounding voting rights, citizenship verification, and election integrity in the United States. As the legal battle continues, the implications of this decision on the upcoming elections and the broader discourse on voting practices remain subjects of significant interest and scrutiny.
