(DailyAnswer.org) – A controversy is brewing in Alabama as the Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the state and its top election official, Wes Allen. The issue centers on the removal of over 3,000 people from Alabama’s voter rolls who had been issued noncitizen identification numbers. These numbers, given by the IRS, help people—especially undocumented immigrants—pay taxes and even get driver’s licenses. But here’s where it gets tricky: people with these numbers aren’t supposed to vote in U.S. elections.
After taking office in January, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen went to work identifying and removing individuals who were on the voter rolls but had been given noncitizen IDs. According to Allen, he was doing his job to protect the integrity of the elections. “I’ve been clear that I won’t allow noncitizens to vote,” Allen said. He even testified before a U.S. Senate committee to stress how important this issue is to him.
But the Department of Justice isn’t having it. They argue that Allen violated the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which says states can’t make changes to voter lists within 90 days of a federal election. Allen made his changes 84 days before, and that’s where the DOJ says he crossed the line.
There’s more: the DOJ claims that not only did Allen’s actions affect noncitizens, but they also wrongfully removed some natural-born citizens from the voter rolls. The Justice Department now wants these voters to be reinstated and for steps to be taken to clear up the confusion before Election Day. They’ve asked for a court order that would make sure eligible voters can vote without any issues.
Allen, however, isn’t backing down. When asked for comment, he said he has a duty to make sure only U.S. citizens can vote and refused to comment further on the lawsuit.
As Election Day gets closer, the battle over voting rights in Alabama is far from over.
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