Overview:
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the state’s Department of Elections has removed over 6,300 noncitizens from voter rolls since January 2022. This action is part of a broader effort to enhance election security ahead of the 2024 election.
Why It Matters:
Ensuring only eligible voters participate in elections protects the integrity of the democratic process and maintains public trust.
Who It Impacts:
This impacts all voters, particularly those concerned with fair and secure elections.
In a significant move to bolster election integrity, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has revealed that the commonwealth’s Department of Elections (ELECT) has removed more than 6,300 noncitizens from its voter rolls since his administration took office. This announcement comes as part of an executive order directing state agencies to enhance election security measures in preparation for the upcoming November elections.
Governor Youngkin outlined the process in his statement, explaining that data collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) identifying noncitizens is shared with ELECT, which then uses this information to update and scrub the voter rolls. “All data collected by the DMV that identifies noncitizens is shared with ELECT, which uses it to scrub existing voter rolls and remove noncitizens who may have purposefully or accidentally registered to vote,” Youngkin stated. He further highlighted that from January 2022 to July 2024, ELECT has successfully removed 6,303 noncitizens from the voter rolls.
Virginia distinguishes itself as one of only three states requiring individuals to provide their full nine-digit Social Security number when registering to vote, a measure intended to ensure the accuracy and legitimacy of voter registrations. In his executive order, Governor Youngkin instructed ELECT Commissioner Susan Beals to provide annual confirmations that the state’s election protocols are “in place” and that local registrars are adequately trained on these procedures.
The governor’s directive includes a comprehensive approach to election security, covering aspects such as ballot deadlines, chain of custody for ballots, the accuracy of tabulation machines, and the verification of election results. Beals is also tasked with ensuring that Virginia’s voter rolls are updated daily, removing ineligible registrants such as those who have moved out of state, deceased individuals, felons, and noncitizens.
Additionally, Governor Youngkin has mandated the state DMV to expedite the sharing of noncitizen data with ELECT. This includes generating daily files of all noncitizen transactions, encompassing addresses and relevant documents. Registrars are required by Virginia law to cancel the registration of individuals who falsely claim citizenship when registering to vote and must report such cases to their local commonwealth’s attorney.
Governor Youngkin emphasized the importance of these measures in his statement: “Our election security model is designed to prevent illegal votes and guarantee legal votes are accurately counted. However, security procedures can only be as strong as the state and federal law which governs voting. Further strengthening of Virginia’s election security system will rely on strengthening state and federal law.”
This proactive approach by Governor Youngkin aims to address concerns about election integrity by ensuring that only eligible voters can participate in the electoral process. By reinforcing these security measures, the administration seeks to maintain public trust in the democratic system and safeguard the accuracy and fairness of elections.
