Feds to monitor SC polls during Tuesday's primary | News

CHARLESTON, SC (AP) - The U.S. Justice Department says it will have people monitoring the polls in both Fairfield and Williamsburg counties during South Carolina primary voting this week.

The department routinely monitors elections in Southern states to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That act prevents discrimination on the basis of race and color.

It's not immediately clear why those two counties were chosen for monitors in South Carolina during Tuesday's primary elections.

A department spokesman did not immediately return a message Monday from The Associated Press.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.