WASHINGTON, May 4 (UPI) -- The Justice Department said Tuesday it will send observers to Monroe County, Miss., and Lake County, Ind., to monitor upcoming elections.
The federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management will monitor the May 4 general election in the city of Aberdeen, Miss., and department personnel from the Civil Rights Division will monitor the primary election in East Chicago, Ind., also May 4.
The decisions to monitor voting was made in response to alleged violations previously.
Federal observers will be assigned to monitor polling place activities in Aberdeen based on the special coverage provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The observers will watch and record activities during voting hours at select polling locations in the city. Civil Rights Division personnel will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.
In East Chicago, Civil Rights Division personnel will monitor polling place activities for compliance with language minority provisions of the Voting Rights Act -- making sure voters have ballots in languages they can understand.
