A southern state has purged 1.1 million voters from its rolls. Officials claim this effort targets ineligible voters.
The purge follows a controversial 2021 voting law. Experts estimate such purges affect 2-3% of registered voters nationwide.
How many non-citizens were on rolls?
Authorities identified over 6,500 non-citizens on voter lists. They removed these individuals from registration records.
Officials refer 1,930 cases with voting history for investigation. Non-citizen voting remains rare, with studies showing rates below 0.001% in most elections.
What about voters with felony convictions?
The state removed 6,000 voters with felony convictions. Laws regarding felon voting rights vary by state.
Some activists argue these removals disproportionately affect minorities. Nationwide, an estimated 5.2 million Americans cannot vote due to felony convictions.
How many deceased voters were purged?
Officials struck 457,000 deceased individuals from voter rolls. Regular removal of deceased voters maintains list accuracy.
Some worry about potential errors in this process. Studies show less than 0.03% of votes cast are from deceased individuals.
What’s a voter suspense list?
Over 463,000 voters landed on the state’s suspense list. This designation often results from undeliverable mail.
Voters on suspense lists face additional requirements to vote. Critics argue suspense lists can lead to voter disenfranchisement.
How do address changes affect registration?
The state removed 134,000 voters who confirmed address changes. Mobility often complicates voter registration maintenance.
Young adults and low-income individuals move more frequently. National data shows 11% of Americans move annually, impacting voter rolls.
Why were some voters unresponsive?
Officials purged 65,000 voters who didn’t respond to notices. Unresponsiveness may stem from various factors, including outdated contact information.
Critics argue these removals might affect eligible voters. Studies show 30% of Americans ignore or miss official mail.
Can voters voluntarily cancel registration?
Over 19,000 voters requested cancellation of their registration. Reasons for voluntary cancellation vary widely.
Some move out of state, others lose interest in voting. Nationwide, about 0.5% of registered voters cancel their registration annually.
What legal actions might follow?
The state refers potential illegal voting cases for prosecution. New laws increase penalties for voting violations.
Critics argue harsh penalties may deter legitimate voters. Voter fraud remains extremely rare, with most studies finding rates below 0.0009%.
How might this impact future elections?
The massive voter purge occurs close to a major election. Some worry about potential disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
Legal challenges to the purge may emerge. The state’s actions could influence voter roll management nationwide.
