USAupdated 1h ago2 min read
Justice Department Deploys About 1,000 Election Monitors Across All 50 States
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Approximately 1,000 monitors deployed nationwide for Election Day, the DOJ's largest monitoring effort. Coordinated by the Civil Rights Division, with personnel from DOJ components and U.S. Attorney offices.
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DOJ sends monitors nationwide
The U.S. Department of Justice deployed approximately 1,000 election monitors and observers to all 50 states for Election Day, with the effort coordinated by the Civil Rights Division.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said, "Election integrity has been one of the top priorities for this Administration and this Division," as monitors checked compliance with federal voting rights statutes within the division's jurisdiction.
The Justice Department said the monitors included staff from the division, other Justice Department components, U.S. Attorney’s Offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management.
The Justice Department also told voters with questions or complaints to contact the department's election issues hotline at 1-800-253-3931.
The department said it intended to monitor or observe in jurisdictions across the country, including Georgia's Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties and Texas's Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Waller counties.
Claims, counterclaims, and rules
President Donald Trump told Fox News by phone that "We are great now. Two years ago we were terrible," and he also claimed the inflation problem was "solved."
Trump also said, "We have it completely under control with the naval blockade against Iran," while the Justice Department simultaneously framed its monitoring as an election integrity priority.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the department was deploying "the largest monitoring effort in DOJ history," and the department said personnel would maintain contact with state and local election officials throughout the day.
Justice Department attorney James Catania wrote to Pennsylvania that, "Our monitors only observe and take notes," and that they "do not intrude or interfere in any way in the voting process."
Votebeat and Spotlight PA reported that Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth Jonathan Marks told counties the monitors "are not authorized by any specific state or federal statute" and "may not enter restricted areas, inspect voting equipment, or demand access to any records."
What is at stake
Voting-rights groups and local election officials raised concerns that the federal monitors could intimidate voters, and USA TODAY reported that the deployment sparked debate ahead of the midterms. USA TODAY quoted Adams County Clerk Josh Zygielbaum saying, "We've never had any complaints," and "We've never been under investigation," as he questioned why federal monitors were being sent to polling places his office oversees. The Justice Department said the monitors would be deployed in all 50 states for the first time, and Newsweek reported that the department said monitors would monitor "compliance with the federal voting rights" laws.
Newsweek also reported that the NAACP sued in October seeking records and warning that the expanded federal presence could intimidate voters. The stakes for control of Congress were framed around the Democratic Party needing to gain three additional seats in the House and four in the Senate to regain control of both chambers, according to VNA.