Arcia et al. v. Detzner (Florida)

In Arcia v. Florida Secretary of State—the challenge to Florida’s pre-election purge of alleged non-citizens on the voter rolls in 2012–Project Vote attorneys, along with our partners, recently won a victory on behalf of two naturalized citizens and several organizations. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that Florida’s voter purge of suspected non-citizens in 2012 violated the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), because systematic removal programs are barred within 90 days of a federal election. The court recognized the risks of disenfranchising eligible voters close to an election, when voters are likely not able to correct the state’s errors in time to vote.

Purges like Florida’s result from database matching programs, which are often highly inaccurate and risk removing eligible voters. These voters often disproportionately come from minority communities, and a discrimination claim was also settled in this case in 2012.

The Arcia v. Florida Secretary of State appeals ruling sets important precedent vindicating the important role of the NVRA in protecting eligible voters. It is the first court decision making clear that Congress meant what it said when it barred these purges just before the election.