You have reached a collection of archived material.
The content available is no longer being updated and as a result you may encounter hyperlinks which no longer function. You should also bear in mind that this content may contain text and references which are no longer applicable as a result of changes in law, regulation and/or administration.
News Release
Monday, November 3, 2008
Tel: 202-606-2402
OPM Provides Election Observers
Washington, DC - In compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and in conjunction with the Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will provide federal observers to monitor the election process. The areas to be covered will be designated by the U.S. Attorney General.
"I am pleased to provide any help OPM can give to ensure this election season runs smoothly," said OPM Acting Director Michael Hager. "It is because of our freedom to vote that we are able to live in a free and secure country."
OPM's Voting Rights Program recruits, trains, and deploys observers to cover various local, state, and federal elections each year at the request of the DOJ. For the November 2008 General Election, OPM will deploy 660 observers to 22 staging sites in 11 states (Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, South Dakota, and Texas)
As specified by DOJ, coverage will focus on either racial/ethnic issues or minority language issues. Minority languages covered in November will include Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Choctaw, Hopi, Keresan, Navajo, Spanish, Towa, and Vietnamese.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is the leader in workforce management for the federal government. Our agency builds, strengthens, and serves a federal workforce of 2.2 million employees with programs like hiring assistance, healthcare and insurance, retirement benefits, and much more. We provide agencies with policies, guidance, and best practices for supporting federal workers, so they can best serve the American people.