51¶ÌÊÓƵ

The US Supreme Court has allowed Virginia to proceed with a program to remove suspected non-citizens from voter rolls, just days before Election Day.  The program, created by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, has sparked controversy with Democrats and the Biden administration arguing that it could disenfranchise eligible voters. Governor Youngkin argues that the program boosts election fairness, while critics warn that it may mistakenly remove eligible US citizens due to insufficient verification processes. A prior US District Court ruling halted Virginia's program, stating it violated the federal “quiet period� rule, which prevents systematic voter roll changes close to election time.  This decision affects approximately 1,600 voter registrations.  Voting rights advocates argue that this purge disproportionately affects citizens who previously marked themselves as noncitizens at the DMV but may have since gained citizenship.  They say it also creates problems for those who may not know their registration has been canceled, especially since the "quiet period" limits the time to re-register before the election. Youngkin and supporters argue that the program’s timing is fair, claiming it upholds election security by ensuring only eligible voters participate.  Virginia does offer same-day registration as a backup, but some worry it will not cover all affected voters, especially those voting absentee.  The Supreme Court's ruling, issued without a detailed explanation, highlights a division among the justices, with liberal justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson dissenting.