Justice Department Clears Recall

The U.S. Justice Department has cleared the October 7 election to recall Governor Davis. The decision is expected to be forwarded to California officials as early as today.

This comes just three days after a federal judge threatened to halt the election if the government didn´t approve it. Under the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, any changes in the voting process must be pre-cleared by the Justice Department in places like Monterey County, which have a history of low voter participation.

The election is forcing some counties to make a number of moneysaving changes that until yesterday´s decision lacked federal approval.

The Justice Department has not signed off on whether voters will decide Proposition 54 on the October 7 ballot. That measure would ban state, federal and local governments from keeping track of the races of their employees, contractors and students.