Justice to observe Tuesday elections

Elections Tuesday in five states will be monitored to ensure compliance with the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department said. The Justice Department said Monday Civil Rights Division observers would monitor elections in Alameda County, Calif.; Springfield, Mass.; Humphreys, Leflore, Panola and Wilkinson counties, Miss.; Lorain County, Ohio; and Jasper, Texas. The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process because of race, color or membership in a minority language group. The observers will watch and record activities during voting hours at the polling locations, the department said.