Lawyers mobilised for US poll
Washington - The US government, political parties and non-governmental groups have mobilised thousands of lawyers to monitor Tuesday's congressional elections and be ready for possible legal challenges.
The opposition Democratic party, which hopes to end the Republican majority in both chambers of congress, announced that it had recruited about 7 000 attorneys and law students.
The volunteers were recruited to "augment voter protection efforts" in certain states and districts, the Democratic party said.
Republicans have also called up lawyers, but the party's press office was not immediately able to indicate the structure of the deployment.
The department of justice has sent 800 lawyers to certain jurisdictions "to ensure that everything with regard to federal laws is being complied with", a spokesperson said.
"They are simply observing and maintaining contact with the state and local officials throughout the day to notify them of things they notice at the polls," the spokesperson said.
Minority rights groups also planned to mobilise hundreds of lawyers and volunteers in certain states and, like the political parties, set up hotlines to assist voters who encounter problems.
Tens of thousands of lawyers were recruited for the 2004 presidential election in which George W Bush was re-elected, four years after the Republican defeated Democratic candidate Al Gore in a hotly contested vote.
The 2000 election turned to catastrophe when the results in the decisive state of Florida were contested and held in limbo for 36 days of recounts and litigation.
News source: www.news24.co.za
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