Ventura County has reportedly removed 65,000 ineligible inactive voters from its registration rolls, an action highlighted by a recent social media post from user Shiloh Marx. The tweet, which stated, "Ventura County:🚨 Removed 65,000 ineligible inactive voters from the voter roll. We are cleaning California voter rolls🇺🇸," underscores ongoing efforts to maintain the accuracy of voter registration databases in California. This process aligns with state and federal regulations governing voter list maintenance.
Voter roll maintenance is a routine but critical function of election officials, mandated by laws such as the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993. The NVRA requires states to adopt procedures to add eligible voters and remove ineligible ones, ensuring that voter lists are accurate and current. In California, voters are classified as "inactive" if mail sent to their registered address is returned as undeliverable, or if they do not respond to address confirmation notices.
The removal of inactive voters typically follows a multi-step process. If a voter is identified as having potentially moved or being otherwise ineligible, election officials send confirmation notices. If these notices are unreturned or if the voter does not participate in elections over a specified period (often two federal election cycles), their registration can be canceled. This process is designed to prevent fraudulent voting and ensure election integrity while protecting the rights of eligible voters.
The push for more rigorous voter roll cleanups in California has been a subject of legal and political discussion. Organizations like Judicial Watch have previously filed lawsuits against California counties, including Los Angeles County, to compel the removal of inactive voters, citing concerns about outdated voter lists. These legal actions have often resulted in settlements requiring counties to conduct more thorough list maintenance.
Ventura County's reported removal of 65,000 voters reflects its adherence to these maintenance requirements. The county's election division regularly updates its rolls using various databases, including those from the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Health, to identify changes in voter eligibility or residency. While the specific 65,000 figure was highlighted in the tweet, such removals are part of an ongoing, systematic effort by election officials to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the voter registration database.