by Joanne O’Connor, Bridge2Blue
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) prevents states from mass purging voters from official voter lists within 90 days of a federal primary or general election. August 5 is the start of what is known as the “quiet period.“
Under the law, individuals can still be removed from the voter files during this period for reasons such as clerical errors, death, change of residency, or other verifiable, specific, individual reasons. On the other hand, systematic voter purges based on a suspicion of ineligibility, however, are illegal to protect voter rights. A voter wrongly removed weeks or days before Election Day as part of a mass purge might not get the chance to prove their citizenship and right to vote.
For over a decade, anti-voting Republicans have challenged the law’s restrictions for each type of voter removal.
Virginia’s former Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) signed an executive order in 2024 to remove alleged noncitizens from the rolls during the quiet period. The Justice Department, under President Biden, sued, won in court, and the state was ordered to restore roughly 1,600 voters to the rolls. Within days of the 2024 election, however, the Supreme Court allowed the purge to remain in effect without an explanation.
A similar Arizona case will be heard by the Supreme Court this fall. While the NVRA bans states from conducting systematic removals during the 90-day period, Arizona contends, with support from the DOJ, that the law does not prevent the federal government from doing so, and federal agencies could send a list of potential noncitizens to states that would be required to remove voters “individually.” SCOTUS would be expected to rule next spring.
In the meantime, concerns mount on how the courts will respond to attempted voter purges during the midterm quiet period starting August 5th.
Check your voting status at the Virginia Department of Elections’ Citizen Portal frequently during these uncertain times, especially during the quiet period. Share this with your networks, friends, and family across the country. Our voting rights and democracy are at stake.
