Justice Can Further Improve Its Monitoring of Changes in State/Local Voting Laws
GGD-84-9
Published: Dec 19, 1983. Publicly Released: Jan 18, 1984.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the manner in which the Department of Justice has enforced section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, as amended, and provided a status report on steps taken to correct the problems identified in an earlier GAO report.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Justice | The Attorney General should ensure that all required data are submitted by a jurisdiction to support a proposed voting change, or that a statement be placed in the file detailing why data were not considered necessary to arrive at a decision. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Justice | The Attorney General should modify Justice's procedures for identifying jurisdictions that implement voting changes without submitting them to Justice for prior approval and/or implement changes even though Justice has objected to them. This modification should include, on a selective basis, a review of State and/or local laws when Justice has reason to believe, or when outside organizations have indicated, that jurisdictions may be violating the act. Such an active role by Justice would complement its existing procedures of relying on outside organizations to identify jurisdictions violating the act and enhance the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and the protection of all citizens' right to vote. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Civil rights lawCivil rights law enforcementConstitutional rightsVotingMinoritiesMonitoringMunicipal lawState lawCivil rightsVoting rights