The U.S. Justice Department today announced the settlement of claims against Fort Bend County alleging election officials violated provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Help America Vote Act.
The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, alleged Fort Bend County failed to implement an effective bilingual election program for Spanish-speaking voters in violation of provisions of the Voting Rights Act.
The county was also accused of preventing eligible voters from receiving assistance from the persons of their choice.
Additionally, the complaint alleged Fort Bend County failed to offer eligible voters in federal elections the use of provisional ballots, and it failed to provide provisional voters information on whether their provisional ballots were counted.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King said the county has agreed to take steps to ensure those without a strong command of the English language will have equal access to the election process.
“The Voting Rights Act requires Fort Bend County to provide meaningful and equal electoral access to its Hispanic citizens who have limited English proficiency. HAVA allows the use of provisional ballots by registered voters who find themselves inadvertently left off voting lists and requires a free mechanism by which voters can learn whether their provisional votes were counted and, if not, the reasons why,” King said. “I am pleased that Fort Bend County officials have agreed to measures that will protect these important rights and will put in place important electoral safeguards.”
The agreement, which must still be approved by a federal court, provides for trained bilingual election officials to be available at polling places where language assistance is needed.
In addition, the county will train all poll officials and other election personnel present at the polls or early voting locations regarding the language assistance requirements of the Voting Rights Act and on the provisional balloting requirements of HAVA.
The agreement also permits the Justice Department to monitor future elections in Fort Bend County.
Attempts to obtain a comment about the settlement from county officials have been unsuccessful.
13. April 2009 at 9:52 am
So there really wasn’t one? That’s what I thought.
10. April 2009 at 2:33 pm
Mega,
Based upon the content of the two articles posted on this site regarding the subject matter which is stated obviously, it is obvious that the obvious is not obvious to you so the obvious choice in any election would not be recognizable to you. Therefore, I’ll leave this discussion just as it is; over with and done.
10. April 2009 at 12:10 pm
Who is this ‘obvious choice of the people’ that lost an election you keep brining up?
10. April 2009 at 10:54 am
Was not the county also accused of preventing eligible voters from receiving assistance from the persons of their choice?
Was not there also there also a complaint alleged that Fort Bend County failed to offer eligible voters in federal elections the use of provisional ballots, and it failed to provide provisional voters information on whether their provisional ballots were counted?
So, are those not others reasons in addition to the lack of provision for an effective bilingual process equating a flawed process which violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Help America Vote Act as this article outlines?
As stated previously and repeated once more:
Well, now, this gives rise to unanswered questions in my mind about past elctions when the obvious choice of the people lost the election.
10. April 2009 at 10:25 am
No, the only thing flawed is the ridiculous notion we need to hold these peoples’ hands and help them vote just because they haven’t taken the effort to learn our language. They can’t figure out how to turn a wheel and press enter?
10. April 2009 at 9:43 am
Does not being in compliance and in accordance with the U.S. Justice Department means that the voting process is compromised and flawed in Fort Bend County? And, so in essence, does not being in complaince interfere with the vote of the people/citizens to really elect who they want to hold office? Well, now, this gives rise to unanswered questions in my mind about past elctions when the obvious choice of the people loses.
10. April 2009 at 9:05 am
A 3 year old could figure out how to work a voting machine but for some reason these people can’t?
9. April 2009 at 8:33 pm
“Help Want” for Bi-lingual election poll employees tobe posted by Fort Bend Co. officials press notice. For justice?
9. April 2009 at 6:08 pm
This is good ,it’s about time Fort Bend County be called out on this prejudice BS.
9. April 2009 at 5:09 pm
Oh brother…I guess we aren’t bending over backwards enough for those that refuse to assimilate and learn our language.