ATLANTA (AP) -- Federal officials say they plan to monitor Tuesday's primary election in two Georgia counties to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The U.S. Department of Justice says it has asked that federal observers be assigned to monitor polling places in Randolph and Washington counties. The agency declined to say why.

The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group.

The DOJ says observers plan to watch and record activities during voting hours at polling sites in those counties. A spokesman for the Georgia secretary of state's office, which oversees elections, said the agency found out about the federal monitors Monday morning and that the counties were aware.