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FEDERAL OBSERVERS TO MONITOR ELECTION IN CALIFORNIA

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In order to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department is sending 11 federal observers to Alameda County, California for tomorrow's primary election.

The Justice Department will dispatch 11 federal observers to polling locations in Alameda County to ensure that Chinese language poll workers and materials are available to Chinese American voters. Under a settlement filed in 1996, the county agreed to provide oral translations and offer sample ballots in Chinese to voters requiring assistance. Under the Voting Rights Act, which protects the rights of Americans to participate in the electoral process without discrimination, the Justice Department can send federal observers to counties that are specially covered under the Act.

"The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing our nation's bilingual voting laws" said Attorney General Janet Reno.

The 11 federal observers, who are employees chosen and supervised by the Office of Personnel Management, will watch and record activities during voting hours at polling locations in the County. A Department of Justice attorney will coordinate the federal observers' activities in the County.