U.S. DOJ Sending Personnel To Monitor Malden Polls

MALDEN, MA — The U.S. Department of Justice plans to send personnel from its Civil Rights Division to monitor polls in Malden Tuesday. The city is one of five communities in Massachusetts and 44 voting jurisdictions nationwide where the DOJ will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws, according to a statement from the agency.

"Federal law entrusts the Civil Rights Division with protecting the right to vote for all Americans," Eric Dreiband, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, said in a statement. "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."

Monitors will focus on compliance with the Voting Rights Act and other laws enforced by the Civil Rights Division. They will consist of civil rights personnel from the DOJ and U.S. Attorney's office and maintain in close contact with local and state election officials.

Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, the division has regularly monitored elections around the country to protect the rights of voters, the DOJ said. Personnel will be sent to the following jurisdictions in 18 states:

• Coconino County, Arizona
• Maricopa County, Arizona
• Navajo County, Arizona
• Los Angeles County, California
• Orange County, California
• Broward County, Florida
• Duval County, Florida
• Hillsborough County, Florida
• Miami-Dade County, Florida
• Orange County, Florida
• Palm Beach County, Florida
• Fulton County, Georgia
• Gwinnett County, Georgia
• City of Chicago, Illinois
• Cook County, Illinois
• Montgomery County, Maryland
• City of Boston, Massachusetts
• City of Lowell, Massachusetts
• City of Malden, Massachusetts
• City of Quincy, Massachusetts
• City of Springfield, Massachusetts
• City of Detroit, Michigan
• City of Eastpointe, Michigan
• City of Flint, Michigan
• City of Hamtramck, Michigan
• City of Highland Park, Michigan
• City of Jackson, Michigan
• Shelby Township, Michigan
• City of Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Bergen County, New Jersey
• Middlesex County, New Jersey
• Bernalillo County, New Mexico
• Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
• Wake County, North Carolina
• Cuyahoga County, Ohio
• Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
• Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
• Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
• Richland County, South Carolina
• Harris County, Texas
• Waller County, Texas
• Fairfax County, Virginia
• Prince William County, Virginia
• City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin