Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CR

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 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 ensure the integrity of the voting process and to ensure that the rights of minority voters are respected, the Justice Department will dispatch 35 federal observers to 14 polling places in Tensas and East Carroll Parishes, Louisiana, to monitor Saturday's primary 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 or are certified by the Attorney General to have coverage.

In both parishes, observers will monitor the treatment of African American voters, including whether they are able to receive assistance from the person of their choice and whether they are improperly turned away by poll workers. Two Civil Rights Division attorneys will also be on the scene to work with local officials to correct problems that may arise during the election.

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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