FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CRT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2006 (202) 514-2007

WWW.USDOJ.GOV TDD (202) 514-1888

Justice Department Agreement will

Help Protect Voting Rights
of New Jersey Citizens in 2006 Federal
Election
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today announced that it has reached an
agreement with the state of New Jersey that will help to ensure an orderly process
for the implementation of New Jersey’s statewide computer voter database, in
accordance with federal law. This agreement, which was filed contemporaneously
with a lawsuit filed by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for
the District of New Jersey, sets a schedule for the state’s completion and
implementation of a statewide computer voter database that includes all eligible
voters and for the identification and removal of ineligible voters from the voter
rolls, in a manner that brings the state into full compliance with the Help America
Vote Act (HAVA) and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).

“We commend New Jersey Attorney General Stuart Rabner and the Elections
Division for their constructive approach to addressing the problems with the state’s
voter database and voter registration list,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney
General for the Civil Rights Division. “The state’s prompt cooperation in this matter
will help ensure that every eligible voter in New Jersey will be able to cast his or her
ballot in November consistent with federal law.”

“We were very concerned that four years had passed without compliance with
federal voting laws by the state Attorney General’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney
Christopher J. Christie. “We are very pleased that Attorney General Rabner has
taken this issue so seriously and has put the resources of his department behind
fixing it as soon as possible.”

“We are fully committed to protecting the rights of New Jersey voters and the
integrity of the election on November 7,” said Attorney General Rabner, who is the
state’s chief election official. “Free and fair elections are fundamental to the
democratic process and full participation is key. This agreement furthers both goals.
As always, we will be vigilant in guarding against the potential for fraud.”
The agreement, which must be approved by the federal district court, sets an
effective schedule for the state to comply with HAVA and the NVRA by
implementing a statewide computer database that includes all registered voters and
removes ineligible voters. The agreement also requires the state to maintain and
continually update the database to avoid similar problems in future federal elections.
The agreement also provides that voters whose names do not appear in the
registration list be given an opportunity to vote by provisional ballot.

The Justice Department has brought a number of suits under the HAVA and the
NVRA to ensure the proper implementation of the computer voter database and the
accuracy and integrity of state voter registration lists. More information about the
HAVA, the NVRA and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of
Justice Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov. Complaints about discriminatory voting
practices may be called in to the Voting Section of the Justice Department's Civil
Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.

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