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FEDERAL OFFICIALS DISPATCHED TO MONITOR

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 thirteen (13) federal officials to monitor Tuesday's runoff election in Hale County, Alabama.

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.

A total of thirteen (13) 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.

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.