Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CR

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1999

(202) 353-8584

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888


FEDERAL OBSERVERS DISPATCHED TO MONITOR LOUISIANA ELECTIONS


WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to preserve the integrity of the voting process and to ensure that the rights of African American voters are respected, the Justice Department will dispatch 25 federal observers to 10 polling places in East Carroll and Tensas Parishes, Louisiana, to monitor Saturday's run-off elections.

Under the Voting Rights Act, which protects the rights of Americans to participate in the electoral process without discrimination, the Justice Department is authorized to ask the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to send federal observers to areas that are specifically covered in the Act.

In both parishes, observers will monitor the treatment of African American voters, including whether they are improperly turned away from the polls and are incorrectly told their affidavit ballots are invalid. Observers will also monitor activities to ensure that voters are able to receive assistance from the person of their choice and are not intimidated by white pollworkers when asking for assistance. Two Justice Department attorneys will be in East Carroll and Tensas Parishes to coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.

In October, the Department dispatched 35 federal observers to 14 polling places in Tensas and East Carroll Parishes to monitor the primary elections.

To lodge complaints about discriminatory voting practices in this election, voters may call

the Voting Rights Examiner at 1-888-496-9455. In addition, complaints of discriminatory voting

practices may be made at any time to the Voting Section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.

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