The U.S Department of Justice will monitor polls in Centre County for compliance with federal voting rights laws during Tuesday’s election.
Centre is among five counties in Pennsylvania and 64 jurisdictions in 24 states the will be monitored by personnel from DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and from U.S. Attorneys’ offices, according to a news release from the department on Monday afternoon. They also will maintain contact with state and local election officials.
“Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Civil Rights Division has regularly monitored elections in the field in jurisdictions around the country to protect the rights of voters,” the news release stated. “The Civil Rights Division will also take complaints from the public nationwide regarding possible violations of the federal voting rights laws through its call center. The Civil Rights Division enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot.”
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, personnel will monitor polls in Berks, Lehigh, Luzerne and Philadelphia counties.
Centre County Board of Commissioners Chair Michael Pipe said the county was notified about the monitors in late October.
“From speaking with other county commissioners around PA who have been through this, a substantial part of the focus is on [Americans with Disabilities Act] requirements at polling locations,” Pipe wrote in a text message. “Essentially, the DOJ would compile a report and we would work with them to make needed improvements for future elections.”
DOJ’s Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes protecting the right to vote. Its Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act ensuring people with disabilities have equal opportunities to vote, and its Criminal Section enforces federal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression.
Complaints from the public throughout the country about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be reported through the form at civilrights.justice.gov/ or by telephone at 800-253-3931.
Questions or complaints related to the ADA can be directed to the department’s ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY). Complaints also can be submitted through a link on the department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.
Complaints related to disruption at a polling place should always be reported immediately to local election officials, according to the news release and complaints related to violence, threats or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police. Such complaints should also be reported to the DOJ after local authorities have been contacted.
