The Leadership Conference Statement on Supreme Court’s Ruling Allowing Voter Purges in Virginia

WASHINGTON — Leslie Proll, senior director of the voting rights program at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s stay of a lower court decision protecting voters in Virginia:

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling to allow the Commonwealth of Virginia to purge voters in the final week of the election is an attack on our freedom to vote and represents a stark departure from long-standing law, stripping away essential protections for voters.

“In America, voters choose our leaders — not the other way around. But certain politicians, supported by billionaire-backed justices, are working to erode our voting rights, disenfranchising Virginians with the very tactics that have undermined trust in our elections before. This illegal action against eligible Virginia voters, particularly those in communities long targeted by voter suppression, serves no purpose but to intimidate and silence their voices.

“Virginia voters who have been wrongfully purged from the voter rolls can still participate in this election by re-registering to vote. If a voter has been removed from the rolls, they can take advantage of Virginia’s same-day registration at their polling location and cast their ballot.

“The Court’s partisan decisions — from undermining reproductive rights to weakening voting protections — demonstrate that the Court’s extremist majority is failing to uphold equal justice for all. We need a Court that will work for all of us, not just a powerful few. It’s time for Supreme Court reform to ensure a judiciary that upholds equal justice and respects the will of the people.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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