The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an emergency challenge from Virginia regarding a federal judge's decision to reinstate potential noncitizens to the state's voter rolls. This decision, a win for Gov. Glenn Youngkin, follows an emergency appeal filed by Virginia to halt the lower court's ruling to restore the names of around 1,600 individuals to the voter rolls.
At the core of the case is the question of whether Virginia's voter removal process violates the quiet period mandated by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). This federal law requires states to cease all 'systematic' voter roll maintenance for 90 days before a federal election.
The Department of Justice, which recently sued Virginia over its removal program, argued against Gov. Youngkin's stance that the state's process is individualized and compliant with state and federal laws.
With the election just days away, the Supreme Court's decision is poised to receive significant attention and scrutiny.
Virginia's voter roll maintenance initiative, initiated in August, involves cross-referencing the state Department of Motor Vehicles' list of self-identified noncitizens with the registered voter list. Individuals identified as noncitizens are notified that their voter registration will be canceled unless they can provide proof of citizenship within 14 days.
