ALAMEDA COUNTY — The Justice Department will send election monitors to four California counties today as it deploys approximately 1,000 monitors and observers across all 50 states for the first time.
The department announced the Election Day deployment to Los Angeles, Alameda, Sacramento, and San Diego counties this morning. The U.S. Department of Justice described the nationwide operation as its largest election monitoring effort in history.
"Election integrity has been one of the top priorities for this Administration and this Division," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in the announcement.
"I am very proud we are deploying the largest monitoring effort in DOJ history, and pursuing transparency for elections in an assertive and nondiscriminatory manner."
The Civil Rights Division is coordinating the deployment. Personnel from the division, other DOJ divisions and components, U.S. Attorney's Offices, and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management will participate.
Division personnel will maintain contact with state and local election officials throughout Election Day.
Monitors will check compliance with federal voting rights laws within the division's jurisdiction.
The voting section enforces civil provisions of the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, and Civil Rights Acts, according to the announcement.
The division's Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. Its Criminal Section enforces federal laws prohibiting voter intimidation and suppression based on race, color, national origin, or religion.
Division personnel will accept voting rights questions and complaints throughout the day and week. Members of the public can call 1-800-253-3931, email VEM@usdoj.gov, or submit a complaint online.
People with ADA questions or complaints can call 1-800-514-0301 or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY), or visit ADA.gov.
DOJ said people should report polling place disruptions to local election officials, including officials at the polling place.
Violence, threats of violence, or intimidation should be reported immediately to local police by calling 911, then to the Department of Justice.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Alameda Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.