The Justice Department sued Alabama, arguing that an effort to remove voters from state rolls was taking place too close to Election Day in violation of federal law.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department said on Friday it filed a lawsuit against Alabama over a program the state said was aimed at removing non-citizens from its election rolls, alleging that it violated federal law because it was implemented too close to the Nov. 5 elections.

The United States Justice Department announced Friday it filed a lawsuit against the State of Alabama and Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen challenging a program aimed at removing voters from its election rolls too close to the Nov.

Gov. Kay Ivey appears in a new ad for Alabama congressional candidate Caroleene Dobson, an ad the Dobson campaign says is based on an unsolicited handwritten note of encouragement Ivey sent to Dobson a few weeks ago.

An Alabama program to systemically remove potentially ineligible voters from its rolls comes too close to the upcoming election, the Justice Department said Friday in a lawsuit. Why it matters: The National Voter Registration Act prevents states from removing voters from the active rolls less than 90 days before an election to prevent last-minute mistakes.

In a new lawsuit, the Justice Department claims Alabama violated federal law by systematically removing voters fewer than 90 days before a federal election.

“Sample ballots for all 67 counties have been made publicly available on our website,” Secretary of State Wes Allen said in a press release. “I would encourage all Alabamians to review these sample ballots as they get ready to head to the polls on November 5.”