{"id":2342697,"date":"2024-09-18T08:15:59","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T12:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-doj-threatens-election-offices-over-cleaning-voter-rolls\/"},"modified":"2024-09-18T08:18:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T12:18:18","slug":"bidens-doj-threatens-election-offices-over-cleaning-voter-rolls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-doj-threatens-election-offices-over-cleaning-voter-rolls\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden&#8217;s DOJ Threatens Election Offices Over Cleaning Voter Rolls"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbidens-doj-threatens-election-offices-over-cleaning-voter-rolls%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2342697&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>As the\u200d 2024 election approaches, numerous states are actively removing noncitizens from their voter rolls. In contrast, Democrats are seemingly undermining these efforts, which raises concerns\u2064 over election integrity,\u2064 especially amid an influx of immigrants. The Biden-Harris administration is opposing the Safeguard\u2064 American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which requires\u2064 proof of \u200dcitizenship for voters, \u200dand has enacted Executive Order \u200b14019, reportedly facilitating the registration of Democrat-leaning voters, including undocumented immigrants.<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Department&#8217;s recent \u200bguidance on voter list\u2064 maintenance is criticized for focusing on restricting states&#8217; removal of ineligible voters rather than encouraging\u2062 effective practices. Critics argue that the guidance presents a &#8220;chilling effect&#8221; on both states and independent watchdog groups by making\u200d voter roll maintenance more \u2063complicated and potentially subject to \u2062legal challenges. Additionally, the\u2063 guidance \u2062includes a \u200c&#8221;90-day \u200cquiet period&#8221; before federal elections that complicates the removal of noncitizen registrations close to election dates.<\/p>\n<p>the guidance is interpreted by some as an attempt by \u200bthe DOJ to \u2064intimidate state governments into loosening their voter verification processes, suggesting a deeper ideological conflict over \u200bvoter registration and election integrity between Democratic and\u200d Republican viewpoints.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>As we approach the 2024 election, states across the country are removing thousands of noncitizens from their voter rolls.<\/p>\n<p>Yet amid a surge of millions of immigrants across our borders, Democrats seem intent not only on undermining these state-led efforts, and leaving the election system vulnerable to potentially unprecedented <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justfacts.com\/news_non-citizen_voter_registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">noncitizen<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearinvestigations.com\/articles\/2024\/08\/14\/vote_integritys_nitty-gritty_the_battle_lines_of_24s_epic_struggle_1051309.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">participation<\/a>, but on threatening those acting to protect our republic from foreign election interference.<\/p>\n<p>The Biden-Harris administration has also led opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, requiring that voters provide documentary proof of citizenship, and enacted <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/26\/exclusive-house-oversight-chair-threatens-subpoenas-if-white-house-doesnt-cough-up-bidenbucks-plans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Executive Order 14019<\/a>, under which federal authorities are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/top-red-state-official-demands-answers-biden-executive-order-attempting-register-illegals-vote\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">allegedly<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sos.alabama.gov\/newsroom\/wes-allen-exposes-federal-government-policy-providing-voter-registration-forms-non\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">working<\/a> to register and mobilize Democrat-leaning voters, including even <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.house.gov\/meetings\/JU\/JU10\/20240910\/117612\/HHRG-118-JU10-Wstate-MitchellC-20240910.pdf#page=8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">criminal illegal aliens<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Department&rsquo;s (DOJ) recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/crt\/media\/1366561\/dl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guidance<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/campaignlegal.org\/press-releases\/us-department-justice-issues-voter-registration-guidance-big-win-voters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trumpeted<\/a> by the administration&rsquo;s progressive allies, addresses &ldquo;limits on when and how jurisdictions may remove voters from their voter lists.&rdquo; Three aspects of the guidance are problematic.<\/p>\n<h2>Failing to Give Guidance on Preventing Illegal Voting<\/h2>\n<p>The first is that the DOJ feels compelled to emphasize prohibitions on state efforts to remove ineligible voters &mdash; just days away from the earliest start of early voting &mdash; rather than encouraging states to avail themselves of all resources necessary to identify ineligible voters and reminding states of their responsibility to remove them. The implication is that the nation&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-pushed-doj-officials-to-back-claims-that-the-election-was-stolen-documents-show\/\" title=\"Trump Pushed DOJ Officials To Back Claims That The Election Was Stolen, Documents Show\">chief law enforcement agency<\/a> is more concerned with policing the efforts of government officials to clean the voter rolls than that the voter rolls may be dirty &mdash; this despite states having found ample evidence of impropriety.<\/p>\n<p>They also lack guidance. &ldquo;These instructions for states focus on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/proposed-change-to-floridas-resign-to-run-law-may-pave-way-for-desantis-2024-bid\/\" title=\"Proposed Change to Florida\u2019s \u2018Resign-to-Run\u2019 Law May Pave Way for DeSantis 2024 Bid\">voter registration list maintenance<\/a> and somehow fail &hellip; to provide guidance on preventing noncitizen voting,&rdquo; Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said in an interview.<\/p>\n<p>Former Justice Department Voting Section official J. Christian Adams, now serving as president and general counsel of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, similarly observed that the guidance &ldquo;doesn&rsquo;t address at all what would constitute a violation of the law for FAILING to have a list maintenance program that is effective.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2>Chilling Effect<\/h2>\n<p>The DOJ&rsquo;s decision to issue such guidance also suggests it believes states are being too vigorous in their voter roll maintenance efforts, and that the department is scrutinizing those efforts.<\/p>\n<p>The second problematic aspect of the guidance is its likely chilling effect not only on states but on third-party election integrity watchdogs. The guidance notes that certain list maintenance activities may violate the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), including:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>comparing voter files to outdated or inaccurate records or databases, taking action that erroneously affects a particular class of voters (such as newly naturalized citizens), or matching records based solely on first name, last name, and date of birth.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&ldquo;The prohibitions of the NVRA extend to any list maintenance activity based on third-party submissions,&rdquo; the guidance unsubtly continues.<\/p>\n<p>The NVRA is mostly silent on what legitimate list maintenance practices consist of, leaving prescriptions largely to the states. The guidance leaves unclear what constitutes an outdated or inaccurate record or database in the DOJ&rsquo;s eyes.<\/p>\n<p>If an election challenge is brought in a state against 1,000 individuals credibly suspected of being noncitizens, and 10 people are inaccurately flagged who share some similar characteristic, would that represent an illegal action &ldquo;erroneously affect[ing] a particular class of voters?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>An accompanying <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/crt\/media\/1366636\/dl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fact sheet<\/a> adds that &ldquo;lodging discriminatory voter challenges to voter eligibility or lodging frivolous challenges without a good faith basis&rdquo; may violate the NVRA, whether conducted by public or private actors. This language could prove precarious for election integrity watchdogs.<\/p>\n<p>Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke has called having to show one&rsquo;s birthplace and proof of citizenship to vote &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/speech\/assistant-attorney-general-kristen-clarke-delivers-remarks-zeta-phi-beta-sorority-inc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">discriminatory<\/a>.&rdquo; Chances are this administration&rsquo;s definition of &ldquo;discriminatory&rdquo; as it relates to voter challenges is not the same as yours.<\/p>\n<p>And how does a DOJ that has turned former President Donald Trump&rsquo;s challenges to the 2020 election into the civil rights-violating election interference conspiracy of the century define a &ldquo;frivolous&rdquo; challenge? Why would we believe the department is fit to serve as an arbiter of &ldquo;good faith?&rdquo; This is a department the attorney general had to promise wouldn&rsquo;t be used as a &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/justthenews.com\/government\/federal-agencies\/garland-vows-doj-will-not-be-used-political-weapon-face-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">political weapon<\/a>.&rdquo; Is the guidance intended as a threat to those who promote election integrity?<\/p>\n<p>As Democracy Docket &mdash; a publication founded by preeminent progressive election litigator Marc Elias &mdash; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydocket.com\/news-alerts\/doj-issues-new-guidance-on-voter-roll-maintenance-amid-surge-of-challenges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">editorializes<\/a>, the &ldquo;guidance comes amid a surge of challenges to state and county voter rolls and maintenance procedures, mostly from right-wing groups attempting to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydocket.com\/opinion\/can-the-new-york-early-mail-voter-act-survive-its-constitutional-challenge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">disenfranchise<\/a>&nbsp;millions of voters right before the November election.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>No doubt the Biden-Harris DOJ sees things the same way &mdash; that efforts to clean the voter rolls equal voter &ldquo;suppression&rdquo; rather than an effort to ensure Americans&rsquo; votes are not illegally diluted by unlawfully cast ones. The guidance is likely aimed at the same &ldquo;right-wing&rdquo; groups Democracy Docket identifies &mdash; along with like-minded governmental authorities.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Department of Justice is clearly trying to intimidate state governments into allowing voter fraud,&rdquo; amid a string of removals of noncitizens &ldquo;embarrassing Democrats, who insist that illegal voting doesn&rsquo;t happen,&rdquo; Sen. Lee said.<\/p>\n<h2>Large Loophole<\/h2>\n<p>The third problematic aspect of the guidance is what DOJ calls the &ldquo;90-day quiet period before federal elections&rdquo; regarding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/help-wanted-rnc-needs-poll-workers-to-protect-the-vote\/\" title=\"Help Wanted: RNC Needs Poll Workers To Protect The Vote\">voter list maintenance practices<\/a>. According to the guidance, under the NVRA, any &ldquo;systematic&rdquo; removal of ineligible voters must be completed no later than 90 days before a federal election. The implication is that if a surge of noncitizens were registered to vote 89 days from an election, it would be impossible to remove them from the rolls in any &ldquo;systematic&rdquo; effort.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s unclear to what extent this guidance or the law undergirding it bears on litigation over voter roll cleanup efforts in places like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydocket.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-2024-08-28-Complaint-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fulton County, Georgia<\/a>, and Arizona.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s pretty easy to get added to the voter rolls,&rdquo; while &ldquo;it&rsquo;s nearly impossible to get removed,&rdquo; Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/fsp2gG73aZQ?t=7811\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">asserted<\/a> during a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing on noncitizen voting. The DOJ seems intent on preserving that fundamental flaw.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ guidance aligns with broader efforts, about which I recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearinvestigations.com\/articles\/2024\/08\/14\/vote_integritys_nitty-gritty_the_battle_lines_of_24s_epic_struggle_1051309.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a> at RealClearInvestigations, of the left to normalize noncitizens in American life and legitimize their incorporation into our society.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Lee remains adamant that &ldquo;Congress should pass the SAVE Act and ensure only Americans vote in American elections.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Republican-led House is set to vote on the bill on Wednesday and to <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/campaign\/4870293-republicans-should-use-a-continuing-resolution-to-safeguard-americas-voting-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">attach it<\/a> to the continuing resolution to fund the government.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Ben Weingarten is editor at large for RealClearInvestigations. He is a senior contributor to The Federalist, columnist at Newsweek, and a contributor to the New York Post and Epoch Times, among other publications. Subscribe to his newsletter at weingarten.substack.com, and follow him on Twitter: @bhweingarten.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the 2024 election approaches, numerous states are actively purging thousands of noncitizens from their voter registration lists. However, in light of a significant influx of immigrants at our borders, Democrats appear determined to not only obstruct these state initiatives but also to leave the electoral system open to an unprecedented level of noncitizen involvement. Furthermore, they seem to be targeting individuals who are working to safeguard our democracy against foreign interference in elections. The Biden-Harris administration has opposed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which mandates that voters present documentary proof of citizenship. Additionally, they have implemented Executive Order 14019, under which federal agencies are reportedly attempting to register and mobilize voters who lean Democratic\u2014including some undocumented immigrants.<\/p>\n<p>The recent guidance from the Justice Department (DOJ), celebrated by progressive allies of the administration, outlines &#8220;limits on when and how jurisdictions may remove voters from their lists.&#8221; This guidance raises several concerns. <\/p>\n<p>Firstly, it emphasizes restrictions on state efforts to eliminate ineligible voters just days before early voting begins instead of encouraging states to utilize all available resources for identifying and removing such individuals. This suggests that the DOJ is more focused on monitoring government officials&#8217; attempts at maintaining clean voter rolls than addressing potential issues with those rolls themselves\u2014despite evidence found by states indicating irregularities.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, critics point out that this guidance lacks direction regarding how states can prevent illegal voting. Senator Mike Lee from Utah noted that while it discusses maintaining voter registration lists, it fails entirely to address measures for preventing noncitizen voting. Former DOJ official J. Christian Adams echoed this sentiment by stating that there is no mention of what constitutes a legal violation for failing to maintain effective list management.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, there is concern about a chilling effect stemming from this guidance\u2014not only on state actions but also on third-party organizations dedicated to election integrity oversight. The guidelines indicate certain maintenance activities could violate the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), including comparing voter files with outdated records or taking actions affecting specific groups like newly naturalized citizens based solely on basic identifiers like name and birthdate.<\/p>\n<p>The NVRA does not clearly define acceptable list maintenance practices; thus leaving ambiguity around what constitutes an outdated record according to DOJ standards could hinder legitimate efforts aimed at ensuring electoral integrity.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, if challenges arise against individuals suspected of being noncitizens\u2014wherein some may be inaccurately flagged\u2014there&#8217;s uncertainty about whether such actions would be deemed illegal under these new guidelines.<\/p>\n<p>The language used in accompanying materials suggests that filing challenges against voter eligibility without substantial grounds might violate NVRA provisions\u2014a situation potentially detrimental for watchdog organizations focused on election integrity.<\/p>\n<p>Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke has labeled requirements for proof of citizenship as &#8220;discriminatory,&#8221; indicating a divergence between her definition and those advocating for stricter verification processes during elections.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, given past instances where former President Trump&#8217;s claims regarding election interference were framed as civil rights violations by the DOJ\u2014it raises questions about how they will classify &#8220;frivolous&#8221; challenges or determine good faith among challengers seeking transparency in elections.<\/p>\n<p>Democracy Docket\u2014a publication associated with prominent progressive litigator Marc Elias\u2014has criticized these guidelines as part of broader right-wing efforts aimed at disenfranchising millions ahead of upcoming elections; suggesting any attempt at cleaning up voter rolls equates with suppressing votes rather than protecting them from illegitimate influences.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Lee argues that this represents an intimidation tactic directed towards state governments amidst ongoing removals designed specifically around addressing noncitizen registrations\u2014which he believes embarrasses Democrats who deny illegal voting occurs regularly.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly\u2014and perhaps most critically\u2014the guidance introduces what DOJ refers to as a \u201c90-day quiet period\u201d prior to federal elections concerning systematic removal practices for ineligible voters; implying if many noncitizens were registered just before an election date within this timeframe\u2014they could remain unchallenged due simply because time constraints would prevent thorough vetting processes leading up until then.<\/p>\n<p>Representative Russell Fry highlighted during discussions surrounding noncitizen voting how easy it is for individuals\u2019 names being added onto registries compared with difficulties faced when trying removal procedures\u2014which seems aligned with current trends observed through various left-leaning initiatives aiming toward normalizing participation among undocumented residents within American society overall.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Lee remains firm advocating Congress pass SAVE Act ensuring only U.S citizens participate fully within electoral processes moving forward\u2014with House Republicans planning votes soon attaching said legislation alongside necessary funding resolutions required governing operations ahead into next fiscal year cycle.<\/p>\n<p>Ben Weingarten serves as editor-at-large at RealClearInvestigations while contributing across multiple platforms including Newsweek &amp; New York Post amongst others; follow him via Twitter @bhweingarten or subscribe directly through his newsletter hosted online!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":698,"featured_media":2342698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/30102896627_0bc5098d5a_o-scaled-e1726516509443.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[3620,7076,36267],"class_list":["post-2342697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-biden","tag-doj","tag-election-offices"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/30102896627_0bc5098d5a_o-scaled-e1726516509443.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/698"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2342697"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342697\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2342698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2342697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2342697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2342697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}