Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) Demands Virginia Stop Voter Roll Purges Ahead of 2024 Election

Washington, DC – Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, wrote to Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares to demand that the Commonwealth of Virginia cease its ongoing purges of voter rolls happening within 90 days of an election, as required by federal law. Connolly is also notifying US Attorney General Merick Garland and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice of the ongoing voter purges in Virginia.

“I write to express my urgent concerns regarding implementation of Executive Order 35 and the Commonwealth’s potential violation of federal law,” wrote Connolly. “Specifically, I am alarmed by the ongoing purges of Virginia’s voter rolls within 90 days of an upcoming election, a practice that would violate the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, which restricts states from conducting systematic voter roll purges within this timeframe.”

“The NVRA restricts states from systematically removing voters from voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election to prevent widespread disenfranchisement and ensure the integrity of the voting process,” Connolly continued. “This restriction is designed to protect voters from being wrongly purged close to an election, which could disrupt their ability to cast ballots.”

“Given the potential for errors in systematic voter purges, the rapid pace of the ongoing purges required by Executive Order 35, and the proximity to Election Day, the Commonwealth must cease any voter purging activities that violate federal law,” Connolly concluded. “I look forward to your immediate and personal attention to this matter to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure the Commonwealth is complying with federal law.”


https://bluevirginia.us/2024/10/rep-gerry-connolly-d-va11-demands-virginia-stop-voter-roll-purges-ahead-of-2024-election