# Virginia Purges Voting Rolls, Over 100K Voters Removed ## Unlawful Removal of Voters One year ago on April 2nd, 2022, the Virginia State Board of Elections (SBE) published a list of over 100,000 voters who had been removed from the voting rolls. The list was used to purge voter rolls throughout the state, leading to widespread fear and uncertainty among voters. The purge was based on a flawed data-matching process that identified voters as having moved out of state, even when many were still living in Virginia. ## Disproportionate Impact on Minority Voters Voting rights advocates have raised concerns that the purge disproportionately impacted minority voters. The SBE's own analysis found that Black voters were 5.3 times more likely than white voters to be wrongly removed from the rolls. This disparity is particularly troubling, given Virginia's history of voter suppression and disenfranchisement. ## Ongoing Legal Challenges The purge has been met with legal challenges from civil rights groups and individual voters. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit on behalf of several voters who had been wrongly removed from the rolls. The lawsuit argues that the SBE violated the Voting Rights Act by removing voters without providing adequate notice or an opportunity to appeal. ## Impact on Future Elections The purge is likely to have a significant impact on future elections. Voters who have been wrongly removed from the rolls may face difficulty casting their ballots and registering to vote in the future. The purge also sends a message that Virginia is not committed to protecting the voting rights of all its citizens. ## Conclusion The purge of voter rolls in Virginia is a major setback for democracy in the state. The removal of over 100,000 voters, many of whom are Black voters, raises serious concerns about voter suppression and disenfranchisement. Ongoing legal challenges and public outcry should force the SBE to correct this injustice and ensure that all eligible Virginians can vote in upcoming elections.
