The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee says the Justice Department is stonewalling efforts to make sure this year’s presidential voting operates fairly.

Chairman John Conyers told Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Wednesday that there hasn’t been enough cooperation with Congress on voting rights issues.

The Michigan Democrat says it’s unclear whether voting machines will be fairly allocated and how federal election monitors will be deployed across the country.

Mukasey responded that making sure the Nov. 4 elections run smoothly is one of his top priorities.

He says the Justice Department plans to work with civil rights groups and state and local officials to solve any problems that might arise.