FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1995                           (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
         JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DISPATCH FEDERAL OBSERVERS
           TO TWO MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES ON ELECTION DAY


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fourteen federal observers will be
dispatched to Noxubee County and Tunica County, Mississippi for
Tuesday's election, the Justice Department announced today. 
Observers have been sent under the authority of the Voting Rights
Act since its enactment to help protect the integrity of the
voting process and to prevent the intimidation of minority
voters.
     Eight federal observers will be sent to Noxubee County and
six to Tunica County to detect possible voting rights violations.
     "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 of 1965, 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.  Sixteen states, including Mississippi, are covered all or
in part by the law.
     The November 7, 1995 general election will determine the
racial make-up of each county's board of supervisors.  Both these
counties have a history of discrimination in voting rights and
federal observers were also present during the August 7 primary
election. 
     The 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
November 7 election.  Included in this are denials of requests
for assistance or denial of voting eligibility for African-American 
voters.          
     Anyone with information concerning violations of the Voting
Rights Act in Noxubee, Tunica, or other counties in Mississippi
can contact the federal examiner at (601) 363-9832.  
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