Statement of Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker Regarding The Decision...

Statement of Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker Regarding
The Decision Not To Utilize Criminal Prosecutors As Monitors In Polling Places
On Election Day

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued
by the U.S. Department of Justice:

"On Election Day, the primary responsibility of the Civil Rights Division is
to ensure all eligible voters are able to cast their ballot in an environment
free of discrimination, suppression or intimidation. The Division has and
will use every statute within its purview to provide all voters with a free
and fair electoral process.

"On November 4, 2008, hundreds of federal government employees will be
deployed in counties, cities and towns across the country to monitor polling
places and to ensure compliance with federal voting statutes. In light of
questions we have been asked regarding who will serve as election monitors, I
want to inform the public that no criminal prosecutors will be utilized as
election monitors on Election Day this year. This decision was made as a
precaution and is not the result of any instance of intimidation or complaint
regarding any specific incident."

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice, +1-202-514-2007, TDD: +1-202-514-1888