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US Supreme Court to hear voter removal case

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to hear a case regarding a state’s actions in maintaining voter registration lists.

Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute will consider sections in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

Fifteen states — including West Virginia — petitioned the court in support of Ohio Secretary the State Jon Husted on March 10.

The A. Philip Randolph Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based organization for African-American trade unionists. It is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

The Supreme Court will review two provisions regarding how a name can be removed from the list. One provision prohibits states from removing names if the person fails to vote, while a second portion forbids a name from being removed if a person moves unless the individual fails to respond to an address change notice and does not vote in the next two consecutive general elections.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and Secretary of State Mac Warner released a joint statement Tuesday announcing the Supreme Court’s decision.

“Keeping voter lists as accurate as possible is crucial for maintaining the integrity of elections in the Mountain State,” Morrisey said. “The process used to monitor the accuracy of voter rolls in West Virginia and Ohio falls in line with federal law.”

State law requires counties to mail a confirmation notice to people who have not voted in any election during four calendar years or who have not updated their voter registration.

“The review by the Supreme Court should confirm that regular, reasonable and ongoing maintenance to voter files is an important tool in reducing the potential for fraud,” Warner said.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Ohio in September 2016 because the state was using an individual’s lack of voting to send out confirmation notices. Ohio sent notices after a two-year period without a person voting.





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