Election Watch: Feds Crack Down on Voting Rights in Florida, Wisconsin

The Justice Department is taking a hard stance on voting rights in Florida and Wisconsin, announcing the monitoring of elections in several key jurisdictions. On August 14, 2012, federal officials will be keeping a close eye on polling places in Collier, Hendry, Lee, Osceola and Polk Counties, Florida, as well as the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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 the 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.

The Voting Rights Act mandates that covered jurisdictions provide language assistance to minority groups, and the Justice Department will be ensuring that this requirement is met. By deploying federal observers, the Justice Department aims to prevent any potential violations of voting rights.

Voters can visit www.justice.gov/crt/voting/index.php for more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws.

The Justice Department’s efforts to monitor elections in Florida and Wisconsin demonstrate its commitment to protecting the voting rights of all citizens.