Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
Justice Department begins notifying counties it plans to monitor on Election Day
The Justice Department has begun notifying counties that it plans to monitor voting on Election Day this November.
Counties in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Washington have received notices so far, and the list may grow.
The department has long sent observers to check compliance with voting laws, but this year it has said it plans a nationwide effort of 1,000 observers.
The department has not said which jurisdictions it will monitor or how many; it says those details will come closer to the election.
Some local officials and experts worry that federal monitoring could disrupt election processes, amid President Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election.
A dispute over monitors in Wyoming has sharpened those concerns, though the Justice Department says its observers acted properly.
States were not initially notified at the same time as counties, but officials said they received notices after NPR asked the department about the gap.
The Justice Department has begun notifying counties it wants to monitor on Election Day.
Counties in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Washington have received notifications, and the list may be growing.
The department has not said which jurisdictions or how many it plans to monitor this November.
The planned monitoring has raised concerns among local officials and experts about possible federal interference in elections.
The Justice Department says it routinely observes elections and disputes claims that its monitors acted improperly in Wyoming.
- Who
- The U.S. Department of Justice is notifying counties it wants to monitor.
- What
- The department plans to send election observers on Election Day. It has not said which jurisdictions or how many it will monitor.
- When
- Notifications began this week, with some sent Tuesday. The monitoring is planned for this November’s Election Day.
- Where
- Counties in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Washington have received notifications.
- Why
- The department says it monitors elections to ensure compliance with voting laws.
Justice Department
Critics and concerned local officials
Purpose of monitoring
Justice Department
The department says it routinely observes elections to ensure compliance with voting laws.
Critics and concerned local officials
Local officials and experts say this year’s effort raises concerns about federal interference in elections.
Conduct in Wyoming
Justice Department
The department says its two monitors were not aggressive and did nothing improper.
Critics and concerned local officials
Wyoming’s governor described the monitors’ behavior as aggressive and irregular, and Laramie County’s Republican clerk said they disregarded state laws and election administration.
Harmeet Dhillon said the department planned to send 1,000 observers nationwide.
The Justice Department began sending county notifications, according to state officials cited by NPR.
Counties in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Washington received notifications.
Multiple state officials told NPR they then received notifications from the department.
- Planned observers
- 1,000 nationwide
- States with notified counties
- Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Washington
- Previous monitoring
- 64 jurisdictions in 24 states in 2022
- Adams County clerk
- Josh Zygielbaum
- Wyoming monitors
- The Justice Department said it sent two monitors
What people are saying
the largest monitoring effort
closer to the election
We disagree with the public framing that the two monitors we sent were 'aggressive' or did anything improper
My initial thought is that it's politically motivated, and that this is …