TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The U.S. Justice Department is suing Florida over the state’s voter purge, saying it was done too close to August’s primary.
The lawsuit Tuesday comes just a day after the state sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over the purge.
Florida is demanding that Homeland Security allow the state to check the names of its registered voters against an immigration database to help weed out non-citizens.
The Justice Department suit alleges Florida’s search for non-citizen voters, initiated at the request of Republican Gov. Rick Scott, violates a “quiet period” required by federal law during the 90 days before an election.
Florida’s primary is Aug. 14.
The suit also contends Florida has been using inaccurate and unreliable voter verification procedures, which also violates federal law.
