The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 20, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
Shortly after taking office, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen directed state election officials to invalidate voter registrations of immigrants who had been issued a Permanent Resident, or “green” card by the U.S. Government. In his zeal to root out noncitizens, he apparently invalidated eligible U.S. naturalized citizens as well.
Despite no evidence of widespread illegal voting by noncitizens in Alabama, Allen directed the removal of residents who had a federal “noncitizens identification number” from the state’s voter rolls. The state purged 3,251 people in August, after which Allen said in a statement, “I have been clear that I will not tolerate the participation of noncitizens in our elections.”
The Alabama Reflector reports that a lawsuit was filed Sept. 13th by democracy groups and four naturalized citizens who had at one time held a green card and noncitizen identification number, and were swept up in Allen’s, QUOTE, “Purge Program.”
The complaint alleges that it violates the First and Fourteenth amendments, the Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act, and asks the court to strike down the program. It also alleges that the announcement and notification of voters violated the VRA’s prohibition of “attempting to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for voting or attempting to vote.” No hearing has been scheduled.
We’ve linked the complaint and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. District Court, Northern District via Democracy Docket – Complaint
Associated Press – Lawsuit says Alabama voter purge targets naturalized citizens
NPR – The GOP is making false claims about noncitizens voting. It’s affecting real voters
Brennan Center for Justice – Noncitizen Voting Isn’t Affecting State or Federal Elections — Here’s Why
Alabama Political Reporter – Undocumented woman charged for voting fraud, but research shows noncitizen voting is rare and overstated
Groups Taking Action:
Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice, League of Women Voters AL, Alabama State Conference of the NAACP
Check Your Voter Registration:
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
- USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
- Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
- Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote
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