Virginia Voter Purge Sparks Legal Battle Ahead of Election

The U.S. Supreme Court reinstated Virginia's decision to purge about 1,600 noncitizens from voter rolls, sparking legal battles. Despite objections from Biden's administration and voting rights groups, Governor Youngkin's initiative aims to ensure election fairness. The policy faces challenges amid debates on immigration and election integrity.

The U.S. Supreme Court has reinstated Virginia's decision to exclude roughly 1,600 individuals from its voter rolls, asserting that they are not American citizens. This move, ahead of the November 5 election, faces criticism from President Joe Biden's administration and voting rights advocates who argue that some citizens were mistakenly removed.

Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, introduced a policy in August to intensify the verification process of voter registration, resulting in this controversial purge. He claims it is a 'critical fight' to protect U.S. citizens' voting rights. The Supreme Court's decision was split, with the three liberal justices dissenting.

In the heated political landscape, with immigration a central theme, this decision has garnered significant attention. Legal challenges argue the purge violates the National Voter Registration Act's provisions and could inadvertently affect eligible voters. The state claimed it notified those flagged for removal, allowing them 14 days to confirm their citizenship status.

(With inputs from agencies.)