The Supreme Court upheld Virginia’s voter registration purge, aimed at preventing non-U.S. citizens from voting, despite a federal judge’s finding that over 1,600 voters were illegally removed.

Virginia’s Republican administration, led by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, successfully appealed for an emergency ruling, which came without a stated rationale.

Critics, including affected voters, labeled the action as a “bad October surprise,” with concerns about citizens being unjustly purged from the rolls, the Associated Press has reported.

Youngkin assured that those removed could still vote through same-day registration, while the Justice Department and advocacy groups argued the purge violated federal law protecting eligible voters.

Written by B.C. Begley