As Georgians head to the polls again on Dec. 6 to decide who will claim the last U.S. Senate seat, the Justice Department (DOJ) will be monitoring the polls in four counties for compliance with federal voting laws.
“For this election, the Civil Rights Division will monitor for compliance with the federal voting rights laws on Election Day in four jurisdictions: Cobb County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County and Macon-Bibb County,” the department announced in a Tuesday press release. “Monitors will include personnel from the Civil Rights Division and from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.”
The DOJ Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces federal voting laws, including the Voting Rights Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.
On Nov. 8, neither Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock nor Republican challenger Herschel Walker was able to secure a majority of the vote, forcing Tuesday’s runoff. With the current balance of power in the Senate favoring Democrats 50–49, a Warnock win would gift Democrats a razor-thin majority. Yet, in the event of a 50–50 split, Democrats would still have the crucial tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris on their side.
“An extra senator gives Democrats more breathing room on important bills,” Obama noted. “It prevents one person from holding up everything and puts us in a better position.”
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Walker, urged his supporters to go out and vote for the former Georgia Bulldogs and NFL running back.