Filed Date: April 17, 2016
Closed Date: June 17, 2016
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This case involved allegations that the local registrar failed to comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ("NVRA") and maintain accurate voter lists.
In April 2016, one resident of Alexandria, VA and the Virginia Voter's Alliance, Inc. filed suit in the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division. The defendant was the General Registrar for the City of Alexandria. Plaintiffs were represented by private counsel, ThompsonMcMullan, and the Public Interest Legal Foundation. Plaintiffs cited the NVRA, 52 U.S.C. § 20507, and Help America Vote Act ("HAVA"), 52 U.S.C. § 21083. The case was assigned to Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Prior to filing the complaint on January 25, 2016, Plaintiff mailed a statutory notice letter to Defendant indicating that the City of Alexandria was in violation of Section 8 of the NVRA based on Plaintiff’s research and comparison of publicly available information from the U.S. census and requested the opportunity to discuss a remedial plan and inspection of voter records. On February 9, 2016, Defendant responded to Plaintiff and provided recent U.S. census statistics for the City of Alexandria and requested that Plaintiff provide with more specificity the additional information requested before scheduling a meeting with Defendant. Plaintiff did not respond to Defendant’s response letter and filed compliant with the Court. Plaintiffs had two key allegations. First, that Defendant failed to conduct and execute a reasonable voter list maintenance program in accordance with Section 8 of the NVRA. Second, that Defendant failed to produce voter records and data in violation of Section 8 of the NVRA. Plaintiff sought declaratory judgment and injunctive relief requiring Defendant to conduct and execute reasonable voter list maintenance program to ensure only eligible voters are maintained in the City of Alexandria.
Defendants filed a motion to dismiss on April 29, 2016. Defendant alleged that Plaintiff failed to adequately plead their case since the complaint relied on conclusory and vague allegation which are insufficient to demonstrate a plausible claim, as required by Iqbal/Twombly, most notably failing to present any U.S. census reports or voter registration information that corroborated Plaintiff’s conclusions, thus have failed to present facts sufficient to state a plausible claim and survive the motion to dismiss. Further, Defendant alleged that substantially complied with Section 8 of the NVRA with respect to their system to maintain voter registration lists and had adequately responded to Plaintiff’s request to review voter records and lists.
On June 10, 2016, the League of Women Voters of Virginia ("League") filed a motion to intervene as defendants. The League alleged that their interests would be impaired if the City of Alexandria's voting rolls were improperly or illegally purged in accordance with Plaintiff’s injunction and that Defendant would not adequately protect the League's interests given that Defendant is a public servant with limited resources and broad responsibilities.
On June 17, 2016, the Court held a hearing on Defendant's motion to dismiss and League's motion to intervene. During the hearing, memorialized in an order filed on June 17, 2016, the Court granted the League's motion to intervene and Defendant’s motion to dismiss, finding that neither counts were adequately pled with the required degree of specificity, as required by Iqbal/Twombly. The Court further dismissed the civil action without prejudice, permitting the Plaintiffs to file an amended complaint only after conducting the appropriate pre-filing investigation and working with Defendant. As of August 2025, the Plaintiff has not filed an amended complaint.
Summary Authors
(7/29/2024)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/46821745/parties/virginia-voters-alliance-inc-v-leider/
Brinkema, Leonie M. (Virginia)
Adams, John Christian (Virginia)
Connally, Nathaniel Thomas (Virginia)
Tunner, William Woodul (Virginia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/46821745/virginia-voters-alliance-inc-v-leider/
Last updated Aug. 15, 2025, 9:07 p.m.
State / Territory: Virginia
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 17, 2016
Closing Date: June 17, 2016
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Virginia Voter's Alliance, a non-stock VA corporation dedicated to voting rights, and a registered voter in Alexandria, VA.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Anna J. Leider (Alexandria, Alexandria), City
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Help America Vote Act (HAVA), 52 U.S.C. § 20901 et seq (previously 42 U.S.C. § 15301 et seq)
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Amount Defendant Pays: 0
Order Duration: 2016 - 2016
Issues
Voting: