SAN DIEGO, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- The Justice Department said Monday it will send observers to Tuesday's city council vacancy election in San Diego to protect minority voting rights.
The observers will watch and record activities during voting hours at polling locations in the city, the department said. Civil Rights Division personnel will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.
On June 23, San Diego County entered into a settlement agreement with the Justice Department designed to protect the voting rights of minority language voters.
Under the agreement, the county must provide voting materials such as notices, forms, instructions, assistance or other materials and ballots in Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. The observers will gather information concerning compliance with the agreement and other issues affecting minority-language voters.
Under the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department is authorized to ask the Office of Personnel Management to send federal observers to areas that are specially covered in the act itself or by a federal court order.
