FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1997                          (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
              FEDERAL OBSERVERS TO MONITOR TUESDAY'S
                PRIMARY ELECTION IN NEW YORK CITY

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a continuing effort to protect the
rights of Chinese speaking voters, 14 federal observers will
monitor Tuesday's primary elections in portions of New York City,
the Justice Department announced today.

     The observers will be dispatched to polls in New York County
(Manhattan) and Kings County (Brooklyn) to observe the New York
City Board of Election's implementation of its Chinese-language
election program.  During tomorrow's elections, which will
determine party candidates for mayor, comptroller, city council and
other city offices, balloting information will be written in the
Chinese language as well as English at polling places where it is
needed, and interpreters will be provided to assist voters upon
request at those locations. 

     Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Isabelle
Katz Pinzler said that the Justice Department decided to dispatch
observers based on information from previous elections and recent
conversations with the New York City Board of Elections.  That
information showed that the city is making strides toward allowing
Chinese speaking voters to participate effectively in the voting
process, but that some Chinese speaking voters were not provided
with adequate election information in Chinese, as required by law,
and were unable to cast their ballots.

     The Voting Rights Act of 1964 was enacted to protect the right
of racial and language minority group members to participate in the
electoral process.  Under the bilingual language provision of the
law, which was added in 1975, election information, such as
ballots, must be provided in a language other than English in
areas, such as Manhattan and Brooklyn, that are covered by the
provision.

     The observers, employees of the Office of Personnel
Management, will watch and record activities during voting hours at
several of the polling locations.  Two attorneys from the Civil
Rights Division will coordinate activities.

     Since 1993, federal observers have monitored six elections in
New York City.  
 
     Under federal law, a voter who needs assistance in casting his
or her ballot because of blindness, disability or inability to read
or write (including an inability to read or write the English
language) may be helped by a person of the voter's choice.  

     Voters in New York can report possible discriminatory voting
practices to a federal examiner at (212) 966-8898.
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