Us Department Of Justice Official Release - 03342-546 Txt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1995

CR (202) 616-2765 TDD (202) 514-1888

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DISPATCH FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO EAST CARROLL PARISH, LOUISIANA TOMORROW WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In an effort to protect the integrity of the voting process and to prevent the intimidation of minority voters, the Justice Department will dispatch eleven federal observers to East Carroll Parish, Louisiana for Saturday's election. The eleven federal observers will be sent to the parish to detect possible voting rights violations, and will monitor the process for giving assistance to minority voters. "Our democracy rests on the right to vote," said Deval L. Patrick, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "The observers will help ensure that minority voters have a fair opportunity to cast their ballot." Under the Voting Rights Act, which protects the rights of Americans to participate in the electoral process, the Justice Department is authorized to request that the Office of Personnel Management send federal observers to areas that are specially covered in the Act. The October 21, 1995 primary election will decide the membership of the police jury, school board, and other state and parish offices. This is an "open primary" election where all candidates, regardless of party, run together, and candidates who get a majority of the votes are elected. A police jury is the parish governing body. The parish has a 65% African-American majority and a history of discrimination in voting rights. The federal observers will provide basic information regarding procedures or activities that could disadvantage or result in the harassment or intimidation of African-American voters during the October 21 election. Included in this are denials of requests for assistance or the assistor of choice by African-American voters. Anyone with information concerning violations of the Voting Rights Act in East Carroll Parish or elsewhere in Louisiana can contact the federal examiner at (318) 559-3708. # # # 95-546