Federal Officials Will Monitor Polls in Metro Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA — Federal election monitors will be out at the polls in metro Atlanta on Tuesday, according to a Justice Department press release.

"The Justice Department announced today," the release said, "that its Civil Rights Division plans to deploy more than 500 personnel to 67 jurisdictions in 28 states for the Nov. 8, 2016, general election."

Among those jurisdictions? Fulton, Gwinnett and Hancock counties in Georgia.

Hancock County is in middle Georgia near Milledgeville.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said, "The bedrock of our democracy is the right to vote, and the Department of Justice works tirelessly to uphold that right not only on Election Day, but every day."

On November 8, it will work like this:

"On Election Day itself, lawyers in the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section will staff a hotline starting in the early hours of the morning, and just as we have sent election monitors in prior elections, we will continue to have a robust election monitors program in place on election day," Lynch said. "The department is deeply committed to the fair and unbiased application of our voting rights laws and we will work tirelessly to ensure that every eligible person that wants to do so is able to cast a ballot."

In Georgia, registered voters must present a valid photo ID at the polls.

If you're turned away at the polls:
"Leading up to and throughout Election Day, Civil Rights Division staff members will be available by telephone to receive complaints related to possible violations of the federal voting rights laws (Toll free at 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767 or TTY 202-305-0082).

In addition, individuals may also report such complaints by fax to 202-307-3961, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov and by a complaint form on the department’s website: www.justice.gov/crt/votercomplaint."

If you spot election fraud:
Also, on election fraud, "complaints may be directed to any of the local U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the local FBI offices or the Public Integrity Section at 202-514-1412. A list of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and their telephone numbers can be found at www.justice.gov/usao/find-your-united-states-attorney.

A list of FBI offices and accompanying telephone numbers can be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us."

If there's violence or a disruption at the polling place:
As always, complaints related to disruption at a polling place should always be reported immediately to local election officials (including officials in the polling place).

Complaints related to violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. They should also be reported to the department after local authorities have been contacted.

Patch's Margo Sullivan contributed to this report.

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