Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is suing the U.S. Justice Department over its decision to send observers to central Missouri’s Cole County. They’re being sent to make sure the county is complying with Title II of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act so that disabled voters have full access to cast their ballots.
In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Ashcroft told him he has no authority to enforce Title II, that only a person “alleging discrimination on the basis of disability” can enforce it.
Ashcroft also criticized Garland for trying to “go through the back door” to Cole County directly, and that he should have directly contacted the Secretary of State’s office instead.
Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming has appointed two assistant U.S. Attorneys to oversee Election Day activities in eastern Missouri. Hal Goldsmith and Jennifer Roy will be acting as District Election Officers, or DEO’s — monitoring and handling complaints on voting rights, election fraud, and threats of violence directed at election officials.
Fleming said every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election, and election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. She added that the Justice Department will “always work tirelessly” to protect the integrity of the election process.
The FBI will have special agents available in each field throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses. Anyone who encounters violence or intimidation should call 911 before contacting the feds.
Maria Keena of KMOX Radio in St. Louis contributed to this report.
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