The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, announced that the Justice Department will be overseeing voting rights compliance in Broward County and Miami-Dade County for the upcoming general election on November 5.
This initiative is part of the department’s routine efforts to ensure adherence to federal voting laws that safeguard citizens’ access to the ballot.
The Justice Department, led by its Civil Rights Division, routinely deploys teams across the country to monitor elections for compliance with federal civil rights statutes. The monitoring effort in South Florida will be coordinated by the Civil Rights Division and will involve direct communication between Justice Department staff and state and local election officials throughout Election Day.
Federal voting rights protections enforced by the Civil Rights Division include provisions under the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, and the Civil Rights Acts. Additionally, the division’s Disability Rights Section will ensure accessibility for voters with disabilities, as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The division’s Criminal Section is also tasked with enforcing statutes that criminalize voter intimidation and suppression based on race, color, national origin, or religion.
Throughout Election Day, the department’s personnel will be available to address and investigate any public reports of potential violations. Concerns can be reported through the department’s website at www.civilrights.justice.gov or by calling the toll-free hotline at 800-253-3931. ADA-related complaints can be directed to the ADA hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY), or submitted via www.ada.gov.
The department advises that any immediate issues or disturbances at polling places be first reported to local election officials and, in cases of violence or intimidation, to local police by calling 911. Such incidents should also be reported to the Justice Department after local authorities have been notified.
This effort underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that all eligible voters can participate without obstruction.
