The Justice Department announced today
that it will monitor elections on Aug. 14, 2012, in the following jurisdictions
to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal
voting rights statutes: Collier, Hendry,
Lee, Osceola and Polk Counties, Fla.; and the city of Milwaukee, Wis.
The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination
in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority
language group. In addition, the act
requires certain covered jurisdictions to provide language assistance during
the election process. Collier, Hendry,
Lee, Osceola and Polk Counties, as well as the city of Milwaukee, are required
to provide language assistance in Spanish.
Civil Rights Division personnel will monitor polling
place activities in these jurisdictions.
Civil Rights Division attorneys will coordinate federal activities and
maintain contact with local election officials.
Each year, the Justice Department deploys
hundreds of federal observers from Office of Personnel Management, as well as
departmental staff, to monitor elections across the country. To file complaints about discriminatory
voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call
the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at
1-800-253-3931.
Visit www.justice.gov/crt/voting/index.php for
more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws.
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