Thread: Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Texas

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 25, 2012

Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Texas

The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor primary elections on May 29, 2012, in Fort Bend, Harris and Jefferson Counties in Texas, to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal voting rights statutes. The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group. In addition, the act requires certain covered jurisdictions to provide language assistance during the election process.

Under the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department is authorized to ask the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to send federal observers to jurisdictions that are certified by the attorney general or by a federal court order. Federal observers will be assigned to monitor polling place activities in Fort Bend and Jefferson Counties based on the attorney general’s certification. In addition, Fort Bend is subject to a court order entered in 2009, which requires the jurisdiction to comply with the minority language and assistor of choice requirements of the Voting Rights Act, as well as the requirements of the Help America Vote Act. The observers will watch and record activities during voting hours at polling locations in these counties, and Civil Rights Division attorneys will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.

In addition, Justice Department personnel will monitor polling place activities in Harris County. A Civil Rights Division attorney will coordinate federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.

Each year, the Justice Department deploys hundreds of federal observers from OPM, as well as departmental staff, to monitor elections across the country. To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.

Visit USDOJ: Civil Rights Division: About the Voting Section for more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws.

12-677 Civil Rights Division

USDOJ: Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Texas

To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.

And then what?

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

And then what?

Looks like them right there. Wonder who is going to monitor the Justice Department.

The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group. In addition, the act requires certain covered jurisdictions to provide language assistance during the election process.

Our Government can't seem to get the story straight. It is illegal for non US citizens to vote in Federal Elections.

A person has to be proficient in English to pass the naturalization test to become a US citizen. The law says that ONLY US citizens can vote in Federal elections. So why is the DOJ going to "monitor" polling places to make sure there are interpreters in place to help people vote? If they are citizens, they shouldn't need interpreters.

Is the DOJ advocating voter fraud?


This is from the naturalization flyer from the USCIS. The USCIS is also a government agency. The US code is pretty specific on who can vote

Can you speak, read, and write basic English and do you have an understanding of U.S. history and government ?(civics)

During your interview, a USCIS Officer will
test your ability to read, write, and speak
English and your knowledge of civics.

Many times the reason applicants fail the
naturalization test is that they cannot answer
the interview questions in English.

To findEnglish and/or citizenship classes where you live, visit
America's Literacy Directory - Find literacy programs in your area or contact your local community
college or adult education program. You should be prepared
for the English portion of your naturalization test when you
submit your application. At your naturalization interview,
you will also be tested on your knowledge of U.S. history
and government (civics). Information on the test and study
materials are available at USCIS - Naturalization Test.
http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Office%20...DFs/G-1151.pdf

Do you support the principles and ideals of the U.S.
Constitution and are you willing to swear an oath to the
United States?

You must be willing to support and defend
the United States and its Constitution. You
declare your “attachment” or loyalty to the
United States and the Constitution when
you take the Oath of Allegiance at your
naturalization ceremony. You become a U.S.
citizen after you take the Oath of Allegiance.
http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Office%20...DFs/G-1151.pdf

The Right to Vote

One of the most important privileges of democracy in the United States of America is the right to participate in choosing elected officials through voting in elections. There are many different types of elections in the United States, such as federal elections, state elections or local elections. Only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections. Registering to vote or voting in a federal election is a crime if you are not a U.S. citizen. Non-U.S. citizens, including permanent residents (green card holders), who vote, or register to vote, in a federal election also can be denied naturalization and/or removed (deported) from the United States.
There are very few jurisdictions where a non-U.S. citizen may vote in a local election. However, this web site does not provide information regarding voting qualifications for state and local elections. You can obtain information regarding voting qualifications in local elections from your local voting authority. It is important to remember that even if you are allowed to vote in a local election, you are not eligible to vote in a federal election if you are not a U.S. citizen, nor in any other election that requires you to be a U.S. citizen.
USCIS - The Right to Vote

18 USC § 611 - Voting by aliens


This preliminary release may be subject to further revision before it is released again as a final version. As with other online versions of the Code, the U.S. Code Classification Tables should be consulted for the latest laws affecting the Code. Those using the USCPrelim should verify the text against the printed slip laws available from GPO (Government Printing Office), the laws as shown on THOMAS (a legislative service of the Library of Congress), and the final version of the Code when it becomes available.

Current through Pub. L. 112-90. (See Public Laws for the current Congress.)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any alien to vote in any election held solely or in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, unless—

(1) the election is held partly for some other purpose;


(2) aliens are authorized to vote for such other purpose under a State constitution or statute or a local ordinance; and


(3) voting for such other purpose is conducted independently of voting for a candidate for such Federal offices, in such a manner that an alien has the opportunity to vote for such other purpose, but not an opportunity to vote for a candidate for any one or more of such Federal offices.



(b) Any person who violates this section shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than one year, or both.


(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to an alien if—

(1) each natural parent of the alien (or, in the case of an adopted alien, each adoptive parent of the alien) is or was a citizen (whether by birth or naturalization);


(2) the alien permanently resided in the United States prior to attaining the age of 16; and


(3) the alien reasonably believed at the time of voting in violation of such subsection that he or she was a citizen of the United States.

18 USC § 611 - Voting by aliens | LII / Legal Information Institute