The Justice Department filed a statement of interest Tuesday in Judicial Watch v. Illinois State Board of Elections, reinforcing its position that states must take “reasonable efforts” under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to remove ineligible voters and maintain transparent voter rolls.
According to the filing, the NVRA’s list maintenance provision demands that states implement effective programs—not symbolic ones—to ensure their voter registration lists remain accurate and publicly accessible.
“It is critical to remove ineligible voters from the registration rolls so that elections are conducted fairly, accurately, and without fraud,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division. “Under the NVRA, states have the responsibility to conduct a robust program of list maintenance. The Department of Justice will vigorously enforce those requirements to ensure compliance.”
