Justice Department sues Virginia over voter registration records

RICHMOND,Va.—TheU.S.DepartmentofJusticehasfiledafederallawsuitagainsttheCommonwealthofVirginia,allegingthestatefailedtoprovidecompletevoterregistrationrecordsasrequiredunderfederallaw. Thelawsuit,announcedTuesdaybytheU.S.DepartmentofJusticeCivilRightsDivision,claimsVirginiadidnotfullycomplywithrequestsforitsstatewidevoterregistrationlists.Federalofficialssaytheinformationisrequiredtoensuretransparencyandcompliancewithelectionlaws. “ThisDepartmentofJusticehasnowsued24statesforfailingtoprovidevoterrolldataandwillcontinuefilinglawsuitstoprotectAmericanelections,”AttorneyGeneralPamelaBondisaidinastatement.“Accuratevoterrollsarethefoundationofelectionintegrity,andanystatethatfailstomeetthisbasicobligationoftransparencycanexpecttoseeusincourt.” AccordingtotheJusticeDepartment,CongresshasauthorizedtheattorneygeneraltoenforcetheNationalVoterRegistrationActandtheHelpAmericaVoteAct—lawsdesignedtoensurestatesproperlymaint