A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on Friday, directing Virginia to restore the voting rights of over 1600 voters who were deemed ineligible due to suspicions of non-citizenship. U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Giles expressed concerns that some affected individuals were actually U.S. citizens.
Judge Giles emphasized that the voter registration process had erroneously flagged eligible voters, highlighting the importance of both upholding the right to vote and ensuring compliance with federal laws.
The issue stemmed from an executive order issued by Republican Governor Glen Youngkin on August 7, which aimed to purge non-citizens from Virginia's voter rolls. The Department of Justice and voter rights groups contended that Youngkin's order violated the 90-day quiet period preceding Election Day.
Concurring with the arguments presented, Judge Giles deemed the executive order a clear violation of the 90-day quiet period regulation. As a result, she mandated Virginia to promptly notify the affected 1600+ voters of the reinstatement of their voter registrations within five days.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the state's intention to appeal the court's decision, indicating a potential legal battle ahead regarding the restoration of voting rights to the impacted individuals.
