DOJ sues Alabama claiming names were removed from voter rolls after election deadline

The Department of Justice is suing Alabama in the latest counter to the state's efforts to purge the voter rolls of noncitizen registrations.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen announced Aug. 13 he had instructed all 67 counties in the state to take necessary steps to inactivate voter registrations for those who are not U.S. citizens after finding more than 3,000 registered voters with noncitizen ID numbers, according to a news release.

Despite lack of evidence of widespread voter fraud from noncitizens, Allen has repeatedly raised it as an issue. Republicans have signaled noncitizen votes may be a factor if Donald Trump loses the election. But some are pushing back, and the DOJ lawsuit filed Friday is at least the second against the Alabama Secretary of State for the move, as Election Day draws closer.

Here is what to know about the controversy:

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DOJ lawsuit alleges Alamaba is removing voters past deadline

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 requires states to finish removing ineligible voters from registration lists no later than 90 days before a federal election.

According to the Justice Department, this rule gives time to fix errors that might occur in a systematic removal program and prevent voter confusion. Federal investigators said they found both native-born and naturalized U.S. citizens had been notified that they were going to lose their voter registration status as a result of Alabama's initiative.

Allen's announcement occurred 84 days before the election.

“The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in the news release. “As Election Day approaches, it is critical that Alabama redress voter confusion resulting from its list maintenance mailings sent in violation of federal law."

Allen's office told USA TODAY it does not comment on pending legislation.

“I was elected Secretary of State by the people of Alabama, and it is my Constitutional duty to ensure that only American citizens vote in our elections," Allen added in a written statement.

Voting rights groups accuse Alabama of discrimination

Earlier in September, the Southern Poverty Law Center along with other voting rights groups sued Alabama on behalf of four individuals and several identity groups, saying they were unfairly targeted by the law.

The complaint alleges discrimination and several violations of the National Voter Registration Act.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include U.S. citizens born in Florida, England, Canada and the Netherlands, who received the letter that they had been flagged as part of Allen's program. Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice, the Alabama NAACP and the League of Women Voters of Alabama are also plaintiffs in the complaint.

“Secretary Allen’s actions are not making our elections any safer; instead, they are inactivating lawfully registered voters from the rolls and unnecessarily causing fear and intimidation,” said Kathy Jones, president of the League of Women Voters of Alabama in a news release.

Lawsuits filed weeks ahead of voter registration deadline

As the DOJ stated, the deadline to clear ineligible voters from the rolls is intended to prevent confusion close to the election. The lawsuits come just over a month away from Election Day.

The deadline to register to vote in Alabama is Oct. 21.

Alabama is one of a handful of states that does not have early voting, and absentee voting in the state requires justification.

Contributing: Sarah D. Wire

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama purged voters after deadline for removal, DOJ lawsuit says