#new The RNC is suing over a Virginia law that allows non-residents to vote in elections.
The lawsuit aims to strike down parts of Virginia law that let people who have never lived in Virginia, some born overseas and never even lived in the United States, register and cast ballots in the state.
RNC Chair Joe Gruters saying,
“Virginia officials are ignoring the Virginia Constitution and allowing ineligible voters to cast ballots.”
“The RNC and RITE PAC are taking this action to enforce the law and ensure non-residents are not diluting the votes of Virginians.”
Republicans argue that only people who actually live in Virginia, who are citizens with ties to the community, should decide who represents the state in Congress, the legislature, or local offices.
Virginia’s statute has a special rule for certain “covered voters”
The lawsuit details the law:
“It lets U.S. citizens born outside the country, claim a parent or guardian’s old Virginia address as their voting home, even though the voter themselves never set foot in the state or established any residence here.”
It claims that “two sections let the voter skip Virginia’s normal residency rules and use the parent’s “last place of residence… where they were eligible to vote in the Commonwealth before leaving the United States.”
Ballots can be cast in Virginia elections, including federal races, by people with zero personal connection to the state beyond a family member’s past address.
Virginia’s own Constitution Article II, Section 1 says every voter “shall be a resident of the Commonwealth and of the precinct where he votes.”
It defines residence as requiring “both domicile and a place of abode.”
Fast Facts:
Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in as Virginia’s governor in January.
Democrats now hold a full government trifecta, the governor’s office plus majorities in both the state Senate and House of Delegates.
Democrat Lawmakers introduced and advanced hundreds of bills so far with many sent to Governor Spanberger’s desk.
Democrats passed or advanced around 25 gun control bills
