FEDERAL OBSERVERS TO MONITOR ELECTION IN CICERO, ILLINOIS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced that it will send 28 federal observers to Cicero, Illinois to monitor possible violations of federal law in the town's April 1, 2003 municipal general election.

Under the Voting Rights Act, which protects the rights of all Americans to participate in the election process without discrimination or intimidation, the Justice Department is authorized to ask the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to send federal observers to areas that are covered by a federal court order. Judge Charles R. Norgle of the U.S. District Court in Chicago approved such an order in October 2000 in a voting rights lawsuit filed by the Justice Department against Cook County in U.S. v. Town of Cicero, et al.

The observers will observe and record activities during voting hours at polling locations throughout Cicero. Justice Department attorneys will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials, as well as local and state law enforcement officials who also plan to monitor the election. The federal observers will monitor the treatment of Hispanic and other voters to ensure they have full and equal access to the voting process.

To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices in this election, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the federal examiner at 1-888-496-9455. At all times, complaints about discriminatory voting practices may be called in 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 website at www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/index.htm.

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