Federal officials to monitor compliance with voting rights during Michigan elections

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WWMT) — Federal eyes will be on several Michigan cities during the upcoming elections in the Great Lakes State.

On Tuesday, US Justice Department officials are expected to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Grand Rapids, Flint, Warren, Detroit and Hamtramck.

Coordinated by the department’s Civil Rights Division, all efforts are aimed at enforcing voting rights laws that “protect the rights of all eligible citizens with access to the ballot,” according to officials.

That includes efforts by Justice Department staff to contact state and local election officials as needed throughout the election, officials said.

Friday’s announcement comes nearly three months after the department monitored compliance in Allegan and Van Buren counties during Michigan’s August primary.

Specifically, voting in Clyde Township, Fennville and Covert Township were under observation, according to previous News Channel 3 reports.

“The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities across the country,” officials said Aug. 5. “In addition, the division also deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management where authorized by federal court order.”

Polls in the Michigan election are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. and close by 8 p.m.

In addition to monitoring compliance with voting rights in Michigan, Division of Civil Rights staff are expected to be available around the clock for public questions and complaints related to possible voting rights violations, according to officials.

Reports can be made online or by calling 800-253-3931.

The Division of Civil Rights’ Voting Section, in conjunction with US Attorneys’ offices, enforces “the civil provisions of federal statutes protecting the right to vote.”

These include the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, the Civil Rights Act and the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act, according to officials.

More information about voting and elections can be found from the Department of Justice online.