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October 31st, 2008
Posted: 12:43 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Justice Department will deploy more than 800 federal observers and monitors to voting sites in 23 states to make sure voters’ federal rights are not violated on election day. While many of the problems that may occur in what is expected to be a record turnout next Tuesday will come under the purview of state and local officials since they have the primary responsibility for running elections, the federal government is responsible for making sure federal laws are not The primary law in question is the Voting Rights Act, which bans intimidation based on race, color, or religion. The department will also investigate and prosecute cases of voter fraud. Unlike in years past, the Justice Department announced last month it will not use any criminal prosecutors to monitor elections to allay concerns of some voting rights advocates including them would discourage some from voting. The observers will come from the Office of Personnel Management while the monitors will be Justice Department employees. Usually the destinations chosen are ones where claims of discrimination have occurred in the past or where there are current allegations. |
 
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