Justice Department to Monitor Polls in Rhode Island for Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws

PROVIDENCE , RI – The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department announced today its plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in four jurisdictions for the September 5, 2023, federal special primary election in Rhode Island’s First Congressional District.

Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, the Civil Rights Division has regularly monitored elections in the field in jurisdictions around the country to protect the rights of voters.  The Civil Rights Division enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot.

For this election, the Civil Rights Division will monitor polls on Election Day in the cities of Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket. 

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Civil Rights Act.

Civil Rights Division personnel also will be available to receive complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws by telephone toll-free at 800-253-3931 or by a complaint form on the department’s website https://civilrights.justice.gov/.

Visit Civil Rights Division | Voting Section | United States Department of Justice for more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting rights law.

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