Senate Moves to Strengthen Protections Against Voter Roll Purges

Last August, just 90 days before Election Day, Gov. Glenn Youngkin appeared on Fox News to defend the removal of voters from the rolls who were believed to be non-U.S. citizens — a move that sparked immediate backlash and a lawsuit. Critics argued the executive order, dated Aug. 7, violated federal law, which prohibits most voter roll purges within 90 days of an election.

Youngkin maintained at the time that his actions were in line with a 2006 Virginia law allowing such removals. That state law directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide data to the State Board of Elections for individuals who fail to indicate U.S. citizenship on their paperwork.

Under the process, those flagged are sent notifications requesting documentation to confirm their citizenship, with removals occurring monthly. However, Youngkin’s 2024 executive order accelerated the process to daily purges, raising concern about its impact on voters.

Now, Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, is leading an effort to address the controversy and assure compliance with federal law. On Monday, the Senate passed his proposal to clarify the federal 90-day threshold for voter roll removals and extend the response time for flagged individuals to contest their potential purge.

Democratic Sen Aaron Rouse speaks to the media at a news conference in Richmond on the first day of the 2023 General Assembly session.  (Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)

Rouse’s bill would increase the response time from 14 days to 28 days after a notice is mailed to the individual.

“A key word there is ‘mailed to them,’” Rouse said, highlighting the ongoing issues with slow mail delivery. “I think we all understand that mail has been quite slow these days.”

When asked last year if lawmakers might revisit the 2006 voter roll cleanup law, Rouse emphasized the importance of adhering to the federally mandated 90–day quiet period to protect voters.

The bill has garnered support from groups like the Virginia Coalition for Immigrants Rights. Director Monica Sarmiento highlighted the importance of the legislation, noting that some naturalized citizens were wrongfully removed from the voter rolls last year.

However, the proposal faced opposition from Melody Clark of Virginia Institute Action, who argued the changes would strain local election officials. “Rolls cannot be cleaned up” within a smaller time frame she said, adding that the extensions would make it “difficult for our registrars.”

The proposal has successfully cleared the Senate by a 20-18 vote but must pass the House of Delegates before heading to the governor.

by Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury

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