Youngkin Removes 6,000 Non-Citizens from Voter Rolls

In a recent address at the Michael Waltrip Brewing Co. in Bristol, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin unveiled Executive Order 35, aimed at ensuring the integrity of the state's voter rolls ahead of the upcoming elections. Youngkin emphasized the importance of maintaining clean voter lists, revealing that over the past two and a half years, efforts have been made to remove non-citizens and deceased individuals from the rolls. He noted that nearly 80,000 deceased voters were purged last year, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance in election management. Youngkin assured attendees that the upcoming November elections would feature a robust paper trail for every vote cast. He highlighted Virginia's commitment to using 100% paper ballots and counting machines that are not connected to the internet, reinforcing the state's dedication to fair and transparent elections. This initiative comes as Virginia is recognized as a critical swing state, having experienced closely contested races in recent years, including a narrow victory for incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger in 2020. The governor's election integrity measures have faced scrutiny, particularly following an incident in 2023 where over 3,400 voters were mistakenly purged from the rolls due to a misclassification in a Virginia State Police database. This incident raised concerns about the accuracy of voter roll maintenance and the potential disenfranchisement of eligible voters, highlighting the delicate balance between election security and access to the ballot. As Virginia prepares for the November elections, Youngkin's Executive Order 35 aims to bolster public confidence in the electoral process amid ongoing debates about election integrity nationwide.