Federal Election Monitors In Salem, 8 MA Cities For Presidential Vote

SALEM, MA — Federal election monitors will be in Salem on Tuesday as part of the U.S. Justice Department's efforts to ensure general election voting rights are protected.

Salem is one of eight Massachusetts cities and 86 jurisdictions across 27 states nationwide where the Justice Department said it will deploy staff to enforce federal voting rights laws.

The other Massachusetts cities where there will be federal monitors are Everett, Fitchburg, Leominster, Lowell, Malden, Methuen and Quincy.

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The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. Monitors will include personnel from the Civil Rights Division, other department divisions, U.S. Attorney's Offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management.

The Justice Department said monitors will work with state and location officials throughout the day to ensure enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts.

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.

"The Department's longstanding Election Day Program is vital to combatting discrimination at the polls and furthering public confidence in the electoral process," Acting United States Attorney Jordan Levy said. "Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination. My office is proud to be a part of this important effort to protect the sacrosanct right to vote."

The Justice Department said any questions or concerns about local disruptions should be first reported to local election officials.

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.

Reports to the department can be made here or by calling 800-253-3931.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)