The Salt Lake Tribune reported this week that the U.S. Justice Department sent attorneys to observe Tuesday’s primary election in Utah’s 3^rd Congressional District. 

The attorneys will be on hand to certify compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

This action was in response to Project USA Director Craig Nelson’s announcement that his organization might challenge the right to vote of some foreign-born residents. 

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said that this tactic is “intimidation – plain and simple.”  Agreeing with him are State Elections Director Any Naccaraton and Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen.  In her 13 years of service, Swensen says she has never seen a case of undocumented aliens registering to vote.  She added that she is pleased the Justice Department is taking this matter seriously and hopes this will deter any future actions of this sort.

Pro-immigration Republican Chris Cannon won the heated primary against an anti-immigration opponent.