Feds to monitor Shelby, Eastpointe elections
Elections in Eastpointe and Shelby Township are among 44 sites nationwide where voting will be monitored by the U.S. Justice Department.
Officials from the Justice Department, which has annually monitored elections in the past, are doing so again this year and announced Monday the sites for Tuesday’s general election. In a news release, the department stated it will also will take complaints from the public nationwide regarding possible violations of the federal voting rights laws through its call center.
“Federal law entrusts the Civil Rights Division with protecting the right to vote for all Americans,” said Eric S. Dreiband, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, in the release. “Our federal laws protect the right of all American citizens to vote without suffering discrimination, intimidation, and harassment. The work of the Civil Rights Division around each federal general election is a continuation of its historical mission to ensure that all of our citizens can freely exercise this most fundamental American right.”
As in past years, monitors will focus on compliance with the Voting Rights Act, and the other
federal voting rights laws enforced by the division, officials said. Monitors will include civil rights personnel from the Civil Rights Division and civil rights and civil personnel from U.S. Attorney’s offices. Civil Rights Division personnel also will maintain contact with state and local election officials.
Michigan is one of 18 states where elections will be monitored, officials said. Other Michigan communities to be monitored include Detroit, Flint, Hamtramck and Highland Park.
On Election Day, Civil Rights Division staffers will be available all day to receive complaints from the public related to possible violations of the federal voting rights laws by a complaint form on the department’s website, civilrights.justice.gov/, or by telephone toll-free at 800-253-3931.
Complaints related to disruption at a polling place should be reported immediately to local election officials, including those at the polling place, officials said. Complaints related to 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.
Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800514-0383 (TDD), or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website, at ada.gov/.
More information about the federal civil rights laws is available on the Civil Rights Division’s website at justice.gov/crt.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jim Fouts announced Monday Warren police will have a presence at polling places Tuesday with both uniformed and undercover officers fanning out to those locations.
“Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer at my request has directed uniformed and undercover Warren Police officers to patrol all 32 election locations on Tuesday November 3 to ensure that voting in the city of Warren will be safe and to guarantee that everyone’s constitutional right to vote without fear of violence or intimidation,” Fouts posted on Facebook. “As a former American Government instructor I believe that it is critical that everyone vote and that all voices will be heard. Due to the many calls I have received expressing fear that the voting will not be safe I felt that it is important that we alleviate any perceived fear on the part of the voters that there is nothing to fear and everything to gain by voting in Warren. City Clerk Sonja Buffa has also expressed the need for additional police on election day to ensure a safe and smooth election. This also means helping to encourage safe distancing while waiting in line on election day. Strong suggestion: Come prepared with a mask, gloves, and patience while waiting in line to vote!”