Republicans are celebrating a new 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing Virginia to remove noncitizens from its voter rolls, a ruling that Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares called a “win for election integrity and the rule of law.” The ruling, announced Wednesday, reflects Republican concerns over maintaining clean voter rolls as part of broader election security.
Attorney General Miyares, who led the case, expressed concern over the Biden-Harris administration’s attempts to halt the lawsuit shortly before an election. He described the ruling as a “reaffirmation” of Virginia’s right to manage its own elections and ensure that only U.S. citizens are represented on the voter rolls.
JUST NOW: In a 6-3 decision, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that Virginia can remove illegal aliens from their voter rolls.
This is a reminder:
If you ARE NOT a United States citizen..
Then you SHOULD NOT be voting in United States elections.
Period.
End of story. https://t.co/7lPIQ18MSa pic.twitter.com/QOj7h529K3
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) October 30, 2024
Gov. Glenn Youngkin applauded the decision, stressing that clean voter rolls are a cornerstone of Virginia’s election security efforts. The governor also pointed to Virginia’s secure voting systems, which include paper ballots, drop boxes with strong oversight, and a reliable chain of custody to ensure a transparent process.
This ruling highlights the ongoing debate over the “new normal” in voting, as the U.S. increasingly depends on mail-in ballots and drop boxes. Recent incidents in the Pacific Northwest reveal vulnerabilities in this system. An arsonist in Oregon and Washington set fire to two ballot drop boxes, destroying hundreds of ballots in Vancouver, Washington, just days before the election. Authorities warn these attacks may continue, underscoring concerns about mail-in voting security.
Protect Democracy, a group challenging the voter roll policy, criticized the ruling, arguing that removing noncitizens from the rolls might inadvertently disenfranchise eligible voters. The group insists there’s no evidence of noncitizen voting and that the decision could negatively impact lawful voters.
With Election Day fast approaching, the ruling has intensified conversations about election security. While Virginia Republicans view it as a win for integrity, critics remain wary of its broader implications for voter access and fairness.
