The Independent View: Federal Judge Rules Against VA Striking Non-Citizen Voters Off Rolls

A Battle over Voters' Rights is ended in Virginia, after a Federal Judge Ruled against Governor Glenn Youngkin's (R) Executive Order that struck over 1,600 Voters from Voter Rolls. On August 7th, Youngkin signed Executive Order 35, which He claimed would increase Election Security by Purging Non-Citizen Voters from the Rolls, a Good idea.

But the Purge move attracted the attention of Voting Rights Groups, who accused Youngkin of Removing Eligible Voters from the Rolls. So on October 7th, the "Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights" and the League of Women Voters of Virginia, filed a Lawsuit in Federal Court Challenging the State’s Policy of Illegally and Systematically Removing Voters from the Rolls.

According to a Statement from the League of Women Voters, the Policy regarding the Removal of Voters from the Registration List is at the core of the Lawsuit.

Then The Department of Justice (DOJ), One of the Plaintiffs in the Lawsuit against the State of Virginia, alleges that Virginia now Violates Federal Law by systematically Removing the alleged Noncitizens from the Voter Rolls during the 90-day "Quiet Period" before the November 5th Election.

August 7th is the day Youngkin signed Executive Order 35, that falls 90 days before Election Day. So if the Purge started the next Day, that's 89 Days. That Lawsuit made it before a Federal Judge, who Ruled against Youngkin on October 25th, Reversing His Order and Reinstating the Revoked Registrations back onto the Rolls.

Youngkin released a Statement blasting the Decision and announcing an immediate Petition to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and if necessary, the U.S. Supreme Court, for an Emergency Stay of the Injunction.

Virginia's Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) also released a Statement Opposing the Ruling and calling the Judge's Decision Politically motivated. "It should never be illegal to remove an illegal voter," Miyares. said in His Statement.

"Yet, today a Court – urged by the Biden-Harris Department of Justice – ordered Virginia to put the names of non-citizens back on the voter rolls, mere days before a presidential election. The Department of Justice pulled this shameful, politically motivated stunt 25 days before Election Day, challenging a Virginia process signed into law 18 years ago by a Democrat governor and approved by the Department of Justice in 2006.

But putting aside whether the Purge included Valid Voters, why did the State wait until they Violated the 90-day "Quiet Period"?

If I was the Judge, I would have said to only put back Valid Citizens, and turn over to the Court Non-Citizens, to determine if they Voted before and if they should pay a Fine and be Deported.