Judge Blocks Alabama from Removing Thousands of Voters Before Election

 

A federal judge has ruled that Alabama cannot remove over 3,200 people from its voter rolls just before the upcoming presidential election. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by Donald Trump, issued a preliminary injunction stopping the effort led by Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen to purge the voter rolls, suspecting some individuals of being non-citizens.

This decision came after the state’s own filings revealed that the list of alleged non-citizens was flawed. At least 2,000 of those flagged were found to be eligible voters, with nearly two-thirds of the list being inaccurately flagged. Both civil rights groups and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sued the state, arguing that removing voters so close to the election violated federal law. Under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), states are prohibited from systematically removing voters from the rolls within 90 days of a federal election.

Kate Huddleston, a lawyer from the Campaign Legal Center, criticized Alabama’s initial announcement. "It’s clear now that 63% of those flagged were wrongfully accused, causing unnecessary stress and hardship for these individuals," she said.

The lawsuit also argued that the methodology used to identify non-citizens was unreliable, further risking the disenfranchisement of eligible voters. Wes Allen, however, stated his commitment to ensuring only eligible voters participate, while expressing his intent to follow the court’s ruling.

Kristen Clarke, head of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, praised the decision, stating it reinforces the federal protections that prevent last-minute actions that could wrongly disenfranchise voters.

Judge Manasco’s order also requires Alabama to notify flagged voters that they remain eligible to vote and are not subject to criminal penalties for registering or voting. Additionally, Allen must inform the state attorney general that several individuals flagged for investigation were wrongfully included.

This case follows similar scrutiny of voter purging efforts in other states, including Virginia, and highlights the ongoing debate over voter roll maintenance ahead of national elections.