"One might argue that Franklin County is covering itself, but under HAVA
a voter can?t be purged without notice, so presumably these are names
that should truly be removed from the voter files."

One would hope that people wouldn't actually believe that notice by mail
is a very meaningful safeguard.  Talk to any political professional --
"open rates" on unsolicited mail, especially but not only when the mail
is directed at younger people (i.e., under 35), are FAR from 100%, and
any practice that places the onus of action on the recipient of a piece
of unsolicited mail when voting rights are at stake = is indefensible.