Justice Department sues Florida over voter purge

AUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

(CBS News) The Department of Justice is making good on its stated plan to sue Florida over Republican Gov. Rick Scott's controversial sweep of the state's voting rolls, filing a complaint Tuesday alleging that the efforts are in violation of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993.

"The State of Florida is conducting a program 'the purpose of which is to systematically remove the names of ineligible voters from the official list of eligible voters,' within 90 days of an election for Federal office," the complaint reads. "The NVRA expressly forbids such removal programs during the 90-day period before an election for Federal office, with a few exceptions that do not apply here."

In a statement, Thomas Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, emphasizes the DOJ's "overriding interest in protecting the rights of eligible citizens to register and vote free from unlawful burdens, while at the same time ensuring that ineligible persons do not register and vote in federal elections in violation of the law." 

"The department is committed to enforcing the National Voter Registration Act so that these objectives are met," he said. 

Florida officials and the Department of Justice have been at odds for weeks over the initiative, which began months ago and aims to identify and purge non-citizens from the state's voter rolls.

The DOJ ordered the state to halt the process last week, citing concerns that it violated voters' rights, but Scott pushed back, defending his efforts and pledging to carry out the process. And on Monday, the Florida Secretary of State announced that Florida was suing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for access to its federal database as a part of that continued effort.

"I have an obligation to enforce the laws of our land. You don't get to vote in Florida if you're a non-U.S. citizen," Scott said on CNN Tuesday.

Florida identified an initial list of 2,600 potential non-citizens based on a cross-search of data from the Florida Department of Elections and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Voters were to be notified by letter that they had been identified as potentially ineligible to vote, and had thirty days upon receipt of the letter to provide documentation of their citizenship or face removal from the polls.

But the database relies on some outdated driver's license information, and a number of the people on the list of possible non-citizens have since proven their citizenship, according to the state's election department. Opponents of the purge argue that the efforts disproportionately targeted Latinos and Democrats.

Despite the public sparring between the DOJ and Florida officials, most county election officials have already opted not to continue with the process, which they are able to do given the guidelines of the state process. At least one county, however, said it was proceeding with the identification and purge of non-citizens.

[GEORGE_W_TUSH]

I think the main lesson of the Iraq War is to let recounts in Florida take place

[ammo17]

no more ACORN they have to stop this (the democrats) how are the illegals going to vote democrat if they (the republicans) do not purge the voter registration rolls.

[stormerF69]

Is this not a states right to determine who votes in their state? If you have moved out of state,you can not legally vote by absentee ballot in the state you no longer reside,no matter who your master is.

[euge005]

In addition to the handful of questionable voters, hundreds of thousands of people have to reregister if they last registered before 1995 or voted by abscentee ballott. No question of legality there, just voter suppression. But Scott has to to it, his owners at Koch call the shots. And he has not had a chance to seal more millions to replace the 70 of proir thefts he used to buy the office last time.

[stormerF69]

When they send a letter to notify the potential voter,why or how is that disenfranchising voters?Your ignorance is really not bliss no matter what your master tells you.

[nancy_naive]

Okay! No more Mr. Nice Guy. The gloves come off and the bedsheets and pillowcases go on. Now, where's that flaming cross?

[stormerF69]

You do know the Klan was a Democratic organization?

[bilrobi1]

It may have been primarily democratic in the beginning. I'm pretty sure that's not the case today,nor has it been for man y years. I think Sinclair Lewis that said when Fascism comes to America,it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross. Much like the present day far right extremist.

[HemiHead66]

The GOP are a big stain on the U.S. They would stab their own Mother in the back if she were in the way of them taking power.

[stormerF69]

Your Koolaid has soured,and again your master has not refreshened it for you.

[tmittelstaed]

Why is this a partisian issue? The law says no purges 90 days before an election, period. It doesen't say no purges by Democrats or no purges by Republicans, just no purges, period. Scott is choosing to violate the law and what should really be happening is the federal marshall should show up and arrest him.

[stormerF69]

If Scott was really violating a law they would arrest him,But alass if Holder can illegally allow guns to be shipped to drug lords in Mexico?

[cubscout09]

The 90 day deadline is one thing, but, the real problem is that the suspect voter list is completely messed up.

Way back in January, when timeliness wasn't an issue, Governor Scott's Secretary of State, Kurt Browning, resigned, saying that the flawed list would incite a "firestorm of press and criticism."

FYI, far from being innocent, this purge was Kurt Browning's baby. Kurt also helped plan the Florida voter purge less than 90 days before the 2008 presidential election. Kurt's anti-voting reform group, "Protect Your Vote Inc," has connections with Koch. Kurt served as supervisor of elections for Pasco County for 26 years, he should know the law by now.

This is not an accident, this is an established pattern of criminal behavior.

[marychgo]

NOBODY -- on this thread, or at the DOJ or the White House -- wants people on voter registration rolls who aren't eligible to vote. EVERY state "scrubs" its voter rolls between elections. But the National Voter Registration Act requires these "scrubs" to be completed 90 days before the next federal election. Florida's federal primary will take place August 14; therefore, Florida cannot legally "scrub" its voter rolls between May 16 and August 14.

If I remember correctly, Rick Scott took office in Florida in January 2011, so he had 16 MONTHS to "scrub" voter registrations. But instead of doing what every other state managed to do, he waited until the last minute, and now whines that the DOJ is forcing him to keep ineligible voters on the rolls. Boo hoo, Rick!

[stormerF69]

Your last sentence said it all Holder is making them keep inelligible voters on the voter rolls? Does this even make sense to anyone? why would the Democrats do this if they know there are illegal voters,unless they want to benefit from it?

[nearl451]

See? Told you Holder was doing his job.