The Supreme Court has stepped in to temporarily block a federal judge’s ruling that required Virginia to restore around 1,600 individuals to its voter rolls. This move comes as a crucial win for Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who recently led an emergency appeal to challenge the reinstatement order.
“We are pleased by the Supreme Court’s order today,” Youngkin shared in a statement. He described the decision as a “victory for commonsense and election fairness.”
Youngkin added, “I am grateful for the work of Attorney General Jason Miyares on this critical fight to protect the fundamental rights of U.S. citizens.”
At issue is whether Virginia’s process for removing names from the voter rolls violates a “quiet period” mandated by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The NVRA demands a 90-day halt on systematic voter list maintenance before a federal election. The case’s stakes are high, with the U.S. Department of Justice and the state of Virginia locked in a legal showdown over the details of voter roll maintenance.
DOJ vs. Virginia’s Removal Process
Justice Department officials argue the state violated federal law. “The Department brought this suit to ensure that every eligible American citizen can vote in our elections,” they stated. The DOJ emphasized disagreement with the Supreme Court’s decision, underscoring the significance of protecting voter rights.
The controversy centers around the voter roll maintenance program launched in August. This initiative used data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to flag noncitizens and sent notices warning that registrations would be canceled unless citizenship was proven within 14 days. With the elections just days away, critics argued the process was poorly timed, risking violations of the NVRA’s quiet period rule.
Election Fairness Under the Microscope
The Justice Department’s legal action cited concerns that eligible voters could be mistakenly purged without proper notification or sufficient time to address errors. A U.S. judge in Alexandria ruled in favor of halting the removals, ordering Virginia to reinstate the registrations of those affected.
Gov. Youngkin has vowed to escalate the matter, telling reporters, “YOUNGKIN VOWS TO APPEAL ‘TO SCOTUS’ AFTER US JUDGE ORDERS 1,600 VOTERS BACK ON BALLOT.” The stakes are mounting, and all eyes are on the upcoming Supreme Court proceedings, which could set a crucial precedent for voter roll maintenance policies.
States Back Virginia’s Appeal
In a powerful show of support, 26 Republican-led states filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to grant Virginia’s emergency motion. They argued that Virginia’s voter removal process was conducted on an “individualized” basis, consistent with federal and state laws. Furthermore, they criticized the DOJ’s broad interpretation of the NVRA, stressing that it should not extend protections to noncitizens.
“This Court should reject Respondents’ effort to change the rules in the middle of the game and restore the status quo ante,” they argued in the brief, defending the state’s authority to determine voter eligibility. “The Constitution leaves decisions about voter qualifications to the people of Virginia. And the people of Virginia have decided that noncitizens are not permitted to vote.”
The legal debate over voter roll management is far from over, but for now, the Supreme Court has given Virginia a temporary reprieve. The eyes of the nation will remain focused on the outcome and its potential implications for election law nationwide.
