Supreme Court Allows Virginia to Purge Voter Rolls Ahead of Election

Background

The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of Virginia’s voter roll purge, allowing the state to remove inactive voters from its rolls ahead of the upcoming election.

The case, Virginia State Board of Elections v. Susan B. Anthony List, was brought by a group of voters who argued that the purge violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).

The Court's Decision

The Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Virginia, finding that the NVRA does not prohibit states from removing inactive voters from their rolls.

The majority opinion, written by Justice Alito, argued that the NVRA’s purpose is to make it easier for people to register to vote, not to prevent states from removing inactive voters from their rolls.

The dissent, written by Justice Sotomayor, argued that the purge would disproportionately affect minority voters and that it was unnecessary because Virginia already had a system in place to identify and remove inactive voters.

Implications of the Decision

The Court’s decision is a major victory for voter suppression advocates. It will make it easier for states to purge their voter rolls, which could lead to thousands of eligible voters being disenfranchised.

The decision is also a setback for voting rights advocates. They argue that the purge will disproportionately affect minority voters and that it is unnecessary because Virginia already had a system in place to identify and remove inactive voters.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's decision in Virginia State Board of Elections v. Susan B. Anthony List is a major victory for voter suppression advocates. It will make it easier for states to purge their voter rolls, which could lead to thousands of eligible voters being disenfranchised.