Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 35 on Wednesday, aiming to bolster election security with a focus on eliminating noncitizens from voter rolls. The order introduces a range of measures to enhance election integrity, including stricter ballot security procedures, improved voter machine testing, and more rigorous maintenance of voter lists to identify and remove noncitizens.
Youngkin’s new order builds on previous efforts to secure the state’s elections, following a June executive order that updated data-sharing agreements and streamlined the removal of deceased voters. “The Virginia model for Election Security works,” Youngkin stated in a press release. “This isn’t a Democrat or Republican issue; it’s an American and Virginian issue.”
The governor emphasized the importance of ensuring that every legal vote counts and is not diluted by illegal votes or malfunctioning machines. He pointed out documented cases of noncitizens on voter lists, with Virginia's Attorney General revealing that over 6,000 noncitizens have been removed from the rolls since taking office.
One key aspect of the order’s security protocol is the mandatory use of paper ballots with a traceable chain of custody, which provides a more reliable record of votes compared to commonly used electronic voting machines.
Executive Order 35 directs the Commissioner of the Department of Elections to ensure individuals who cannot verify their citizenship are removed from the statewide voter registration list. Additionally, the Department of Motor Vehicles must verify an applicant’s identity and legal status with the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration before issuing a driver’s license. The order also establishes procedures for handling attempts by noncitizens to register to vote, including notifying prosecutors and affirming the Attorney General’s authority to enforce election laws.
Youngkin’s move aligns with a broader Republican push to prevent illegal immigrants and noncitizens from participating in elections, while some Democrats have dismissed these concerns as unfounded. Biden criticized such claims in July as “easily disproven falsehoods,” opposing a House GOP bill aimed at enhancing election integrity.
In a related development, America First Legal filed a lawsuit against Maricopa County, Arizona, on Tuesday, accusing the county of failing to remove noncitizens from its voter rolls.
Read Youngkin’s press release here.
