WASHINGTON - Stating that Hispanics faced hostile treatment at Springfield's voting polls, the U.S. Department of Justice announced yesterday that it has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging that it violated the Voting Rights Act regarding Hispanics and Spanish-speaking voters.

"The right to vote is a fundamental guarantee for all American citizens," said Wan J. Kim, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division in a statement released by the Justice Department. "In light of the serious problems faced by minority-language citizen voters in Springfield, we hope that city officials and the Justice Department can reach an agreement quickly to implement remedial measures in time for the 2006 federal elections."

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