DOJ sued Virginia for allegedly purging noncitizens from voting rolls too close to the election

U.S. Department of Justice Virginia is suing, alleging the commonwealth removed noncitizens from its voter rolls too close to Election Day.

D complaint Alleged that the state Board of Elections and Virginia Elections Commissioner Susan Beals committed federal violations National Voter Registration Law (NVRA), which mandates that states must complete their maintenance program within 90 days of the election under a provision known as the quiet period provision.

The agency alleged that Republican Gov. Glenn Yonkin violated the NVRA when an executive order was announced and subsequently required the elections commissioner to regularly update the state's voter rolls to remove individuals who were “marked as noncitizens” and did not respond. Request citizenship verification within 14 days.

Under Youngkin's executive order, Virginia removed 6,303 individuals.

“The executive order formalized the program and announced that 6,303 individuals were removed from the list following the same process between January 2022 and July 2024,” the complaint states.

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The complaint noted that voters were identified as potentially noncitizens if they answered “no” to questions about their citizenship status on certain forms submitted to the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

“This systematic voter removal program, which the state is conducting 90 days after the next federal election, violates the quiet period provisions,” the DOJ said.

In a statement, Yogkin dismissed the Justice Department's case, saying the case was “politically motivated.”

“Less than 30 days after the election, the Biden-Harris Justice Department is bringing an unprecedented lawsuit against them and me. Commonwealth of Virginia to adequately enforce a 2006 law signed by Democrat Tim Kaine that requires Virginia to remove noncitizens from the voter rolls – a process that begins with someone declaring themselves a noncitizen and then registering to vote,” said Youngkins.

“Virginians – and Americans – will see this exactly for what it is: a desperate attempt to attack the legitimacy of the Commonwealth elections, so vital to American democracy,” he said.

Younkin pledged to “protect these common-sense measures” and promised that state elections would be “safe and fair.”

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“With the support of our attorney general, we will defend these commonsense measures, which are legally required, with all the resources available to us,” he said. “Virginia’s elections will be safe and fair, and I will not stand by while this politically motivated lawsuit attempts to interfere in our elections, period.”

A volunteer holds up a sticker to hand out to a voter on Election Day in Stamford, Connecticut. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, Wrote in X This DOJ case is “election interference.”

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“The Biden-Harris administration is engaged in election interference,” he wrote. “They are harassing states that try to ensure that non-citizens cannot vote. It is an illegal abuse of power.”

The Justice Department's lawsuit against Virginia comes after the agency sued Alabama and its Republican secretary of state, Wes Allen, over the state's voter purge program. Non-citizen voters are targets.

The Justice Department sued Alabama and its Republican secretary of state, Wes Allen, over the state's voter purge program. (AP Photo/José Luis Magana)

The Justice Department is seeking injunctive relief that will “restore the ability of affected eligible voters to vote freely on Election Day” and “prohibit future violations of the quiet period,” the DOJ said in a statement.

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“The department also requires corrective mailings to educate eligible voters about restoring their rights and adequate training of local officials and election officials to avoid confusion and distrust among eligible voters accused of being uncivilized,” the agency said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Youngkin for comment.