Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CR

MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2000

(202) 514-2007

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888


FEDERAL OFFICIALS DISPATCHED TO MONITOR

PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, AND ALABAMA


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In an effort to preserve the integrity of the voting process by ensuring that the rights of minority voters are respected, the Justice Department will dispatch a total of ninety-eight (98) federal officials to monitor Tuesday's elections in Passaic County, New Jersey, Hale County, Alabama, and four counties in New Mexico.

Under the Voting Rights Act, which protects the rights of all Americans to participate in the electoral process, the Justice Department is authorized to send federal observers to areas that are covered either by court order or by the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The observers are supervised by the Office of Personnel Management.

In Passaic County, New Jersey, a total of twenty-six (26) observers will monitor polling places to ensure that all written election materials are translated into Spanish, that the county has adequately trained poll workers to assist voters whose primary language is Spanish, and that Hispanic and Spanish-speaking voters have full and equal access to the voting process. Observers were authorized for Passaic County by the U.S. District Court in Newark on June 4, 1999, in a consent decree between the Justice Department and Passaic County. The federal District Court also has ordered into effect a Spanish-language Outreach and Publicity Plan that was required by the 1999 Consent Decree. Three Justice Department attorneys will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.

In Alabama, a total of ten (10) observers will monitor polling place activities in Hale County to ensure that African American voters are not subject to discriminatory treatment at voting sites and are not prevented from receiving assistance from the person of their choice. One Justice Department attorney will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.

In New Mexico, a total of sixty-two (62) observers will monitor polling place activities in Bernalillo, Cibola, McKinley, and Sandoval Counties to ensure that Native American voters receive assistance in their native language where it is needed to cast an effective ballot. Each of these counties is required under court decrees to provide voting and election information in Native American languages, including translation of the ballot in the Navajo or pueblo languages for voters on election day. The observers, many of whom speak the applicable Indian languages, will watch and record activities during voting hours at the polling locations. Eight Justice Department attorneys will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.

To lodge complaints about discriminatory voting practices in this election, voters may call the federal examiner at 1-888-496-9455. At all times, complaints about discriminatory voting practices may be made to the Voting Section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.

More information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice Internet site at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting.

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