The Justice Department is cracking down on potential election rigging in Florida and Wisconsin, announcing plans to monitor elections in several jurisdictions to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The department will be monitoring elections on August 14, 2012, in Collier, Hendry, Lee, Osceola, and Polk Counties in Florida, as well as the city of Milwaukee in Wisconsin.
The move comes as the Justice Department seeks to prevent discriminatory practices in the election process, including language barriers that could disenfranchise minority voters.
Under the Voting Rights Act, covered jurisdictions must provide language assistance during the election process, and in this case, Spanish-speaking voters in the affected areas will receive support.
Civil Rights Division personnel will be deployed to monitor polling place activities, working closely with local election officials to ensure a fair and impartial process.
The Justice Department’s move is part of a broader effort to protect the rights of all voters, particularly those who may face barriers to participation.
Each year, the department deploys hundreds of federal observers to monitor elections across the country, working to prevent voter intimidation and ensure that every voice is heard.
Voters who suspect discriminatory voting practices can report their concerns to the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.
For more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws, visit www.justice.gov/crt/voting/index.php.
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