Coming Soon to a Theater Near You, It’s The Purge: Voter Rolls

“The Justice Department on Friday filed a lawsuit against Virginia, alleging that a state program aimed at removing people from the voter rolls, which Gov. Glenn Youngkin touted in an executive order in August, was implemented too close to the Nov. 5 elections and wrongfully included eligible voters.” – Virginia Mercury, 10/14/2024

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Universal Studios and Blumhouse Productions are excited to release a new Purge film just in time for spooky season (and Election Day!). Billed as the most frightening Purge cinematic experience yet because of how closely it follows real life, The Purge: Voter Rolls is sure to terrify viewers even more than its predecessors.

“Audiences have pretty much had their fill of dystopian violence in The Purge universe,” a spokesperson for the movie said. “What really scares them more than anything at this point are reflections of reality. Authoritarianism and unapologetic betrayals of democracy? Keep your slashers and your jump scares —this is the horror of the future.”

The film is rated R for intense language and disturbing depictions of gratuitous voter suppression.

No spoilers allowed, but here are some quotes from the trailer to whet your appetite for disenfranchisement:

• “The unwritten Purge rule: Don’t register more voters. Tonight, we remove voters. We make things manageable. Unfortunately, too many citizens are exercising their protected right, so we omit to keep things balanced.”
• “Our target for this year’s purge is hiding in your home. You have one hour to give his information to us, or we will be removing all of your names from the voter rolls.”
• “Decriminalized civil rights violations—an outlet for American Rage.”
• “We will now purge. We will suppress your vote and violate your rights, remove your name and reduce your demographic’s turnout. This is the American way.”
• “More low-income voter registrations are killed during the Purge than anyone else.”
• “Shhh. It’s ok. Your soul has been cleansed. You’ve been purged. Just one question for you: Was his vote worth yours? Your family’s?”
• “Unwritten Purge rule is ‘leave the rural county voter rolls alone.’”
• “Incoming reports show this year’s Purge has been the most successful to date, with the most legitimate voters removed ever.”

And just for fun, try this new game to get into the seasonal spirit: Quote from the original Purge films or from a real Republican?

1. “We must stop her from poisoning our great country by taking away our freedoms.”
2. “Help us purify this nation once and for all.”
3. “Dirty voter rolls mean dirty elections. If you don’t protect that vote, we are going to lose the foundations this country was built on.”
4. “Recent reporting suggests that the growing anti-Purge sentiment may have a monumental effect on the upcoming presidential election.”
5. “With the support of our Attorney General, we will defend these commonsense steps, that we are legally required to take, with every resource available to us.”
6. “He will not leave this to the voters. He does not believe in the American system.”
7. “You’re gonna cost me the White House.”
8. “He got this whole thing pushed through Congress. Well, you got protests all over the place now.”
9. “We are watching you. That’s why I’m doing what small thing I can do to try to clean up the rolls. … I do want people to understand that they are being looked at.”
10. “Come on. We both know there’s no easy answer where somebody, some group doesn’t suffer.”
11. “So sad! What has happened to our once Great Country?”
12.  “Tonight allows people a release for all the hatred and violence that they keep up inside them.”
13. “I hope you feel cleansed. Blessed be America, a nation reborn.”
14. “We are going to use this year’s Purge to do some spring cleaning, gentlemen.”
15. “If we’re going to save our elections and save our country, we have to get involved. We can’t just be angry about it. We have to get our hands dirty.”
16. “The soul of our country is at stake.”
17. “Just remember all the good the purge does.”

The Purge Films: 1, 2, 4, 6 – 8, 10, 12 – 14, 16, 17

Republicans: 3, 5, 9, 11, 15