U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

Voting Rights Program

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, gives the U.S. Attorney General the responsibility for enforcing the rights guaranteed to citizens under the 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. This includes ensuring that states and political subdivisions are prevented from employing any voting qualifications, prerequisites, standards, practices, and procedures that deny or abridge a U.S. citizen's right to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group. The Act defines language minorities as persons who are American Indian, Asian American, Alaskan Natives, or of Spanish heritage.

The Act also authorizes the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to provide observers to certain political subdivisions (counties) and other political units as determined by the Attorney General. In such subdivisions, observers may enter any place where an election is being held to monitor (1) whether persons who are entitled to vote are being permitted to vote, and (2) whether votes cast are being properly tabulated, if so requested by the Attorney General. The observers then prepare reports that are submitted to the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which enforces the Voting Rights Act. Voting Rights observations are held for elections throughout the year. More information about federal observers and how to request monitoring of an election by DOJ can be found on the website of DOJ's Civil Rights Division at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/examine/activ_exam.htm.

OPM is currently hiring individuals with special language skills to serve as observers on an intermittent basis. Languages needed include Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Bengali, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, and several Native American languages. If you would like to apply, call the toll-free number below. If you would like to apply, call the toll-free number below or send an email to votingrights@opm.gov.

Mail inquiries to:

Voting Rights Program Manager
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
1900 E Street, Room 2469VR,
Washington, DC 20415

Call 202-606-1400 or (toll free) 1-866-885-4122.