Warren’s vote will be monitored by federal officials – The Oakland Press

Warren will be one of six cities in Michigan and 86 nationwide to be monitored Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Justice for compliance with federal voting rights laws.

Voting in Warren, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Hamtramck will be observed by federal staff for compliance with US civil rights laws in elections in communities across the United States, according to a DOJ news release.

The DOJ regularly monitored voting on election day. The number of communities to be tracked this year is an increase from the Justice Department’s monitoring of the 2022 and 2020 elections, which enforces federal laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot.

In 2022, the vote was observed in 64 jurisdictions in 24 states, including Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Pontiac and Southfield.

In 2020, Eastpointe and Shelby Township were among seven communities in Michigan and 44 communities in 18 states nationwide that were monitored, including Detroit, Flint, Hamtramck, Highland Park and Jackson.

The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. The monitors will include staff from the Civil Rights Division, other DOJ divisions, staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, officials said. Throughout Election Day, division staff will liaise with state and local election officials.

Seal of the Department of Justice, in 2023 at the Department of Justice in Washington. AP FILE PHOTO

On Election Day, Division of Civil Rights staff will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public about possible violations of federal voting rights laws, officials said. Reports can be made through the department’s website civil rights.justice.gov or by calling toll free at 800-253-3931.

Complaints about any disruption at a polling place should be reported to local election officials, including those at the polling place, officials said. Complaints of violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. These complaints should also be reported to the department after local authorities have been contacted. Local election and law enforcement officials were also trained in election security.