Justice Department Expands Election Monitoring in Bid to Oversee November Vote
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The DOJ has started notifying counties in several states that it plans to send observers for the November election, prompting questions from local officials about the criteria and purpose of the monitoring.
The U.S. Department of Justice started sending notifications to counties in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Washington this week indicating that federal observers will be present on Election Day. The list of jurisdictions appears to be expanding in real time, as the department moves forward with a sweeping election oversight effort.
Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, said the agency intends to deploy about 1,000 observers nationwide, describing it as the largest monitoring effort in its history. A DOJ spokesperson, Kiersten Pels, said details about which jurisdictions will be monitored will be released closer to the election, as the department continues to finalize its plans.
Under the previous administration, the department observed 64 jurisdictions in 24 states during the 2022 midterm elections. This year, officials in several states say they were not notified at the same time as the counties, leading to uncertainty about the scope of the monitoring effort and the criteria being applied.
Adams County, Colorado clerk Josh Zygielbaum expressed concern that the DOJ’s selection of his county, which lies in a competitive congressional district, might be politically motivated. He noted that the county is covered by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires language assistance for voters, while neighboring Weld County is not. Pels said the department prioritizes locations with competitive races and those covered by Section 203, which the DOJ says helps focus resources where they are most needed.
State officials are reviewing the DOJ’s requests. Colorado Secretary of State office spokesperson Jack Todd said the state is considering the notifications in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office. Zygielbaum said he has asked a state staffer to be present on Election Day to observe any federal monitors and to ensure the process stays orderly.
The DOJ has also notified seven counties in Texas, King County in Washington, Miami-Dade County in Florida, and Hennepin and Ramsey counties in Minnesota. In Minnesota, monitors were denied close access during the August primary, and state officials said a decision about the general election has not yet been made. Texas previously blocked DOJ monitors during the 2024 election cycle, highlighting ongoing disputes over federal involvement in state election administration.