The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a 6-3 ruling on Wednesday affirming Virginia’s right to remove noncitizens from voter rolls, a decision that Republican leaders are applauding as a win for election security. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who spearheaded the appeal, called the ruling a “win for election integrity” and criticized attempts by the Biden-Harris administration to stop the purge.
Miyares described the Supreme Court’s decision as a needed step to ensure the integrity of Virginia’s elections. “Today’s ruling is a reaffirmation of our commitment to election integrity,” Miyares said, expressing frustration over federal involvement that he viewed as politically motivated interference.
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 praised the ruling as well, highlighting Virginia’s approach to election security, which includes paper ballots, a strong chain of custody, and verified drop boxes. Youngkin emphasized that these measures are part of a broader effort to keep elections fair and free from political interference.
This ruling underscores larger concerns over the “new normal” in voting methods, particularly the increased dependence on mail-in ballots and drop boxes. Recent incidents in Oregon and Washington — where an arsonist set fire to ballot drop boxes, destroying nearly 500 ballots — have raised questions about the security of these voting methods. Law enforcement has issued warnings about similar attacks that could threaten election security.
The case has sparked controversy, with Protect Democracy, an organization opposing the policy, arguing that the purge might remove eligible U.S. citizens. They claim there’s no evidence of noncitizen voting and warn that eligible voters could be disenfranchised as a result of the state’s actions.
As Election Day nears, the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Virginia reflects ongoing debates over how best to secure voter rolls. For Republicans, the decision is a victory for election integrity, while critics argue it poses risks for lawful voters.
