FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CR

MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1998                                                                                                                                  (202) 616-2765

                                                                                                                                                                                  TDD (202) 514-1888




JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DISPATCH FEDERAL ELECTION MONITORS


TO ALABAMA, CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO





	WASHINGTON, D.C. --  In an effort to preserve the integrity of
the voting process and to prevent the intimidation of minority
voters, the Justice Department will dispatch more than 100 federal
officials to monitor Tuesday's elections in Alabama, California and
New Mexico.

	Under the Voting Rights Act, which protects the rights of
Americans to participate in the electoral process, the Justice
Department is authorized to send federal observers to areas that
are specially covered in the Act.

	In Alabama, 29 observers will monitor elections in Barbour and
Dallas counties to ensure that African American voters with limited
literacy and failing eyesight receive assistance from a person of
their choice.  They will also determine whether African American
voters on the registration rolls are allowed to cast their ballots.
	In California, 10 federal observers will monitor polling
locations in Alameda County to ensure that language translators are
available to Chinese American voters.  Under a consent decree filed
in 1994, the county must provide translators and sample ballots in
Chinese to voters requiring assistance. 

	In New Mexico, 66 federal observers will monitor polling
locations in Bernalillio, Cibola, McKinley, Sandoval and Socorro
Counties.  All five counties operate under settlements stemming
from Justice Department suits.  The settlements require the
counties to provide effective language assistance to Native
Americans at the polls.

	The observers, who are under the supervision of the Office of
Personnel Management, will watch and record activities during
voting hours at the polling locations and in some cases during the
counting of votes.  An additional 14 Justice Department officials
will coordinate federal activities in the various counties.  

	To report any possible election crimes, voters should contact
the United States Attorneys office in their area.

	To lodge complaints about discriminatory voting practices,
voters may call a federal examiner at 1-888-496-9455. 




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