ALBUQUERQUE — The Justice Department plans to monitor the primary election in two New Mexico counties to ensure compliance with federal voting laws.

Cibola and Sandoval counties in New Mexico were targeted for monitoring in today's election, along with selected counties in Alabama, New Jersey and South Dakota.

The Justice Department has been sending election monitors to New Mexico for years, in part because of American Indian populations.

Cibola County's population was nearly 36 percent American Indian and 33 percent Hispanic, according to the 2000 Census. Sandoval's population was 14 percent Indian and 27 percent Hispanic.

Sometimes, the election monitors focus on districts that carry minority majorities. For example, there are several Indian-majority legislative districts in New Mexico, and parts of Cibola and Sandoval counties are in some of those.

Under the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department can send federal observers to areas that are covered in the act or by a federal court order. The New Mexico counties are monitored as part of a federal court order last year.

Observers will watch and record activities during voting hours at polling locations. Attorneys from the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division will oversee the activities and maintain contact with local election officials.