VIRGINIA, USA — Frank from Fredericksburg, Virginia saw a local story claiming more than 100,000 Virginia voters were purged from the voter rolls. He contacted us and asked us to get the Verify team on the case.
THE QUESTION
Who gets purged from Virginia's voter rolls and why?
THE ANSWER
Thousands of ineligible voters get purged for various reasons.
THE SOURCE
THE PROCESS
We looked at the Virginia Department of Elections (ELECT) most recent Annual List Maintenance Report.
How Voter Lists Work
ELECT says Virginia’s List Maintenance Team compares voter registration data from multiple sources.
It checks its data against voter registrations from dozens of states and D.C.
It gets non-citizen information and address changes from the DMV and Post Office.
Virginia State Police and The U.S. Attorney's Office provide data on convicted felons because they lose their right to vote.
The Governor's Office gives them data on felons who have had their voting rights restored.
The Social Security Administration and Department of Heath sends details on deaths.
And the Circuit Courts provide the list of people declared mentally incapacitated.
- 293,894 people who moved out of state got a voter cancellation notice at their new address.
- 114,898 voters were removed after they registered to vote in another state.
- 5,569 convicted felons lost the right to vote.
- 55,340 voters we identified as deceased.
- 589 voters were deemed mentally incapacitated.
ELECT also received a list of convicted felons who have successfully petitioned the Governor to have their civil rights restored.
- 32,398 citizens registered to vote after having their rights restored.
These reports are posted monthly and are available for viewing on the ELECT website
The Department of Elections says the List Maintenance Team gives the voter lists to the 133 General Registrars throughout the Commonwealth and they have the ultimate authority to retain, remove or update voters on the voter lists