### DOJ Sues Alabama Over Voter Roll Purge Before Federal Election

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken legal action against Alabama and its chief election official, accusing the state of unlawfully removing voters from registration lists too close to the upcoming federal election. The lawsuit, filed on Friday, alleges that Alabama's actions violate the National Voter Registration Act's "quiet period provision," which restricts systematic removal of voter names within 90 days of a federal election.

Alabama's Republican Secretary of State, Wes Allen, had announced in August a new initiative to remove noncitizens from voter rolls. Under this initiative, more than 3,000 individuals with previously issued noncitizen identification numbers were flagged for potential removal and had their voter registration statuses marked as inactive.

Federal officials argue that this action impacts both native-born and naturalized US citizens who are eligible to vote, causing confusion through mailings that state their voting status is now inactive. "The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy," declared Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general in charge of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. Clarke emphasized the importance of addressing voter confusion promptly as election day approaches.

In response to the lawsuit, Wes Allen defended his actions, stating, "I was elected secretary of state by the people of Alabama, and it is my constitutional duty to ensure that only American citizens vote in our elections." He refrained from further comment, citing pending litigation. Allen had admitted in August that some flagged individuals might have been naturalized since receiving their noncitizen identification and would need to update their voter information.

The controversy has also attracted legal challenges from groups like the Campaign Legal Center, the Fair Elections Center, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. They argue that the state's purge disproportionately targets naturalized citizens who had noncitizen IDs before obtaining US citizenship. Plaintiffs in their lawsuit include a Dutch-born man naturalized in 2022 and a US-born citizen who received letters informing them of their move to inactive voter status.

The DOJ's lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to ensure that eligible voters affected by the purge can participate in the upcoming election on November 5. The resolution of this case could significantly impact voter participation and the administration of the upcoming federal election in Alabama.