Conservative efforts to purge state voter rolls ahead of the November election have intensified, raising concerns from the Justice Department about potential violations of federal rules governing voter list management. At least three dozen cases related to voter rolls are pending in 19 states, with some lawsuits brought by the Republican National Committee against state election officials in battleground states like Georgia, Nevada, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The focus of these efforts is on claims of noncitizen voting favoring Democrats, despite rare instances of confirmed noncitizen voting. Legal experts note a significant increase in lawsuits aimed at generating controversy and undermining election confidence.
The Biden administration has emphasized compliance with the National Voter Registration Act, which sets rules for updating voter rolls. A federal lawsuit in Georgia challenges the application of a 90-day quiet period rule, highlighting the ongoing legal battles surrounding voter roll maintenance.
Critics warn that mass removals of registered voters could disenfranchise legitimate voters, as seen in Alabama's recent voter roll purge. Lawsuits in various states, including Nevada, Michigan, North Carolina, and Arizona, accuse election officials of improper voter roll maintenance.
Despite the legal challenges, experts caution that past cases have not yielded significant outcomes. The Public Interest Legal Foundation is pushing for greater transparency in voter roll maintenance in Wisconsin, a state exempt from the NVRA.
Overall, the current wave of lawsuits reflects a broader effort to address voter roll accuracy and integrity, with ongoing debates over the balance between voter rights and election security.
