MILWAUKEE — The U.S. Department of Justice plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 64 jurisdictions in 24 states on Election Day. The list includes two Wisconsin cities: Racine and Milwaukee.
The DOJ said its Civil Rights Division has regularly monitored elections to protect the right of voters since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The division enforces the right for all citizens to have access to a ballot, and it also takes complaints from the public regarding possible violations of federal voting rights laws.
The people monitoring the polls will include personnel from the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys' Offices. The division can also deploy monitors from the Office of Personnel Management, if authorized by a federal court order.
"The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Civil Rights Acts," the DOJ wrote in a press release. "The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion."
The Civil Rights Division can be contacted on Election Day for complaints related to possible violations through a form on the department's website or by calling 800-253-3931.
A federal election crime is committed when there are one or more federal candidates on the ballot and one or more of the following occurs:
- Election or polling place officials abuse their office
- The conduct involves voter or ballot fraud
- The crime is motivated by hostility toward protected minority groups
- The activity violates federal campaign finance law
Voter and ballot fraud are among the most common violations, according to federal officials. This can include:
- A voter intentionally gives false information when registering
- An ineligible person votes
- An individual votes more than once in a federal election
- Election officials who inappropriately use their office to benefit a candidate or party
- A voter receives something of value, such as money or other bribes, to vote for a certain candidate
The other 62 jurisdictions the Civil Rights Division will monitor are:
- City of Bethel, Ala.
- Dillingham Census Area, Ala.
- Kusilvak Census Area, Ala.
- Sitka City-Borough, Ala.
- Maricopa County, Ariz.
- Navajo County, Ariz.
- Pima County, Ariz.
- Pinal County, Ariz.
- Yavapai County, Ariz.
- Newton County, Ark.
- Los Angeles County, Calif.
- Sonoma County, Calif.
- Broward County, Fla.
- Miami-Dade County, Fla.
- Palm Beach County, Fla.
- Cobb County, Ga.
- Fulton County, Ga.
- Gwinnett County, Ga.
- Town of Clinton, Mass.
- City of Everett, Mass.
- City of Fitchburg, Mass.
- City of Leominster, Mass.
- City of Malden, Mass.
- City of Methuen, Mass.
- City of Randolph, Mass.
- City of Salem, Mass.
- Prince George’s County, Md.
- City of Detroit, Mic.
- City of Flint, Mich.
- City of Grand Rapids, Mich.
- City of Pontiac, Mich.
- City of Southfield, Mich.
- City of Minneapolis, Minn.
- Hennepin County, Minn.
- Ramsey County, Minn.
- Cole County, Miss.
- Alamance County, N.C.
- Columbus County, N.C.
- Harnett County, N.C.
- Mecklenburg County, N.C.
- Wayne County, N.C.
- Middlesex County, N.J.
- Bernalillo County, N.M.
- San Juan County, N.M.
- Clark County, Nev.
- Washoe County, Nev.
- Queens County, N.Y.
- Cuyahoga County, Ohio
- Berks County, Pa.
- Centre County, Pa.
- Lehigh County, Pa.
- Luzerne County, Pa.
- Philadelphia County, Pa.
- City of Pawtucket, R.I.
- Horry County, S.C.
- Dallas County, Texas
- Harris County, Texas
- Waller County, Texas
- San Juan County, Utah
- City of Manassas, Va.
- City of Manassas Park, Va.
- Prince William County, Va.
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