August 24, 2005

Justice Department Settles Voting Rights Lawsuit Against Texas County

"The Justice Department announced today that it filed a lawsuit against Ector County, Texas, alleging violations of the rights of minority- language voters under the Voting Rights Act. The Department simultaneously filed a consent decree resolving the lawsuit against the county.

Section 4(f)(4) of the Voting Rights Act requires that certain jurisdictions with a substantial minority-language voter population must provide all voting materials and assistance in the minority language as well as in English. The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleges that the county failed to meet its legal responsibilities under section 4(f)(4) to provide effective assistance to Spanish-speaking voters at the polls.

"By promptly agreeing to implement an extensive and effective remedial plan, Ector County officials have demonstrated a real commitment to addressing past problems and protecting the voting rights of their minority-language citizen voters," said Bradley J. Schlozman, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

The consent decree with Ector County, which still must be approved by a federal judge, requires that the county implement procedures that will ensure compliance with federal law and permit the Justice Department to monitor future elections."

Posted by Randy Riddle at August 24, 2005 12:35 PM