The U.S. Justice Department will monitor elections in Wisconsin today. Civil Rights Division personnel will monitor polling place activities in the city of Milwaukee, to watch for discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation. They will also be maintaining contact with local election officials.
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. Milwaukee elections officials are required to provide language assistance in Spanish.
There are numerous local, legislative and congressional primaries on the ballot today, in addition to the statewide Republican primary for U.S. Senate.
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.
