Frequently Asked Questions about Voting Rights

What does the Justice Department do to enforce the Voting Rights Act?

Under Section 2 of the Act the Department may sue in federal court to challenge those practices that it has determined are racially discriminatory. The Department has a description of the lawsuits of this nature that it has filed. The Department also works with states and localities to help them understand the Voting Rights Act and avoid discrimination in voting, and may send federal observers to monitor elections when such monitoring is deemed necessary.