COLUMBIA, S.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday that it would monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in South Carolina on Nov. 5, as many voters head to the polls to cast their ballots in the general election.
United States Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs of the District of South Carolina said multiple subsets of the Department of Justice would monitor the voting process.
In a separate announcement, the department said that South Carolina was one of 27 states being monitored on Election Day. The focus would also include 86 jurisdictions across the country. While the statement didn't list all of them, it includes Charleston County, South Carolina. The DOJ's civil rights division will coordinate the effort.
The DOJ said the division's voting section enforces civil provisions of the federal law that protect voter rights, such as the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts.
The division's disability rights section enforces Americans with Disabilities Act requirements that ensure people with disabilities are provided a "fair and equal" opportunity to vote.
The department's criminal section enforces federal criminal laws prohibiting voter intimidation and suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.
"On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws," Boroughs' office said in a statement.
Voters can report violations of the federal voting laws at the Justice Department's Civil Rights website or call 800-253-3931. People with complaints regarding disability access violations can contact the ADA at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY). They can also submit a complaint through the ADA website.
Complaints regarding disruptions at a polling place should be addressed to local election officials. Violence and threats of violence at the polling place should be reported to local law enforcement or by calling 911.
