Florida Accused of Discrimination in Suit Over Voter Roll Purge

Florida was sued by two voters and five groups including a labor union over claims the state’s efforts to purge non-citizens from the voting rolls discriminated against Hispanic and black voters.

The suit, filed yesterday in federal court in Miami, is the first on behalf of individuals who were on a list of potential noncitizens flagged for removal from the voter rolls. Earlier this month, Florida was sued by the U.S. Justice Department, which claimed the state violated the National Voting Rights Act because the purge was being done within 90 days of a federal election. The next election in Florida, a primary that includes elections for federal office, is set for Aug. 14.