(The Center Square) – With Election Day three weeks away, Virginia’s attorney general’s office has created a section to investigate voter intimidation, improper registration removals and other barriers to voting.

Attorney General Jay Jones announced the Voter Protection Section on Tuesday. It will enforce existing election laws and review proposed election changes that could affect voters.

The announcement did not include a budget or staffing count. The Center Square asked whether the section will use existing employees or new hires, require additional taxpayer funding and change the office’s existing work.

Ajay Saini, the section’s chief, said its responsibilities include examining polling place changes, voter intimidation, discriminatory redistricting and improper voter registration cancellations. He also identified language access and barriers facing students, voters with disabilities and military voters.

The office said the section will also enforce laws against improper absentee ballot denials.

“This work now has a permanent home, and a team focused every day on defending voting rights and enforcing Virginia law,” Jones said in the announcement.

The Voting Rights Act of Virginia already prohibits racial discrimination in voting and local election methods that weaken protected groups’ ability to elect candidates of their choice. Certain localities must also provide election materials in minority languages.

The law gives the attorney general a role in reviewing some local election changes. Localities changing election districts, moving polling places or making other covered changes must follow a public notice and review process or seek a certification of no objection from the attorney general.

Saini said the section will work with the Department of Elections and the attorney general’s Federal Accountability Unit. He said its responsibilities will extend throughout the year.

Jones’ office said he created the section in response to what it described as weakened federal voting rights protections and efforts by the Trump administration to impede ballot access.

The announcement did not identify specific court rulings or administration actions behind those concerns.

The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 protects against racial discrimination in voting and is separate from Virginia’s law.