Last week, we celebrated the efforts of three states—Alabama, Ohio, and Virginia—to actively purge non-citizens from their voter rolls. However, the fight to maintain election integrity is far from over, and the situation is urgent.
A recent conversation between a top Election Integrity expert in Virginia and state officials revealed concerning gaps in the process to ensure that the 6,000+ non-citizens identified in Virginia are truly removed from the rolls. This lack of clarity and action underscores the crucial and immediate role of local oversight in safeguarding our elections. The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated.
Retired Colonel John Mills, President of the National Election Integrity Association and a leader of a local Election Integrity Working Group in Virginia, has shown us the impact of grassroots action. By holding local officials accountable, Mills has successfully removed two Recorders who failed in their duties and is now working to confirm that the current Recorder's office is following through on the purging of non-citizens. His efforts underscore the power of direct engagement at the local level to ensure that election laws are enforced, and voter rolls are clean, empowering citizens like you to make a difference.
When Mills realized that top state officials didn't have clear answers on whether voter rolls were being properly cleaned up at the local level, he immediately contacted the Recorder. Driven by a commitment to ensure electoral integrity, he decided to "trust but verify" by directly contacting the new Recorder to investigate the situation. His proactive approach sets an example of holding local officials accountable and ensuring that the voter rolls are maintained accurately and transparently.
It's a stark reminder that even when state leaders identify issues, the execution at the local level is what ultimately determines the integrity of our elections.
If you're not already engaged with a local group overseeing the maintenance of your voter rolls, we need you. Every citizen has the right to ask their local Recorder for information on how voter roll maintenance is conducted, including non-citizen removal. We cannot afford to assume “somebody” is making an effort, and we should never worry about how the Recorder will react to inquiry because they work for you.
Every citizen has the right to ask the Recorder for information, and by law, the Recorder is required to supply you with answers without a formal FOIA inquiry. An email, phone call, or in-person visit can get the ball rolling.
“People don’t do what you expect, but what you inspect.”
Here’s a list of recommended questions. Be sure to ask when they identified and purged registrants and how many:
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