The Department of Justice has deployed about 1,000 monitors to every single state for the first time in its history, according to the Washington Examiner. This massive effort covers 126 counties across the nation ahead of the midterm elections. Former President Joe Biden’s team sent fewer than 400 people to just 24 states during the last midterms.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced the move in a statement on Monday. She stated, “Election integrity has been one of the top priorities for this Administration and this Division.We are executing the largest monitoring effort in DOJ history with assertive, nondiscriminatory transparency for elections, making me very proud ” She added, “”
Judge Sets Strict Rules for Monitors
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., blocked the NAACP from stopping the deployment but set strict limits on the staff. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ordered that no monitor can be a sworn law enforcement officer. The monitors must also be unarmed and cannot wear uniforms or show federal badges.
Walton denied the request to block the program because the current evidence did not show voters would be scared. The judge noted these individuals would be administrative staff, not police officers with arrest powers.
Walton also ordered the monitors to follow all state and local election rules. They cannot speak to voters inside the polling place. They may only talk to voters outside the building after those voters have cast their ballots. The DOJ must file a report by 7 a.m. ET on Tuesday to prove they followed these new orders.
63 New Charges Filed on Election Eve
The Justice Department also announced criminal charges against 63 people for election-related crimes on Monday.
Four of the new defendants were identified as illegal immigrants.
Senate Democrats sent a letter to Blanche expressing their worry about the new monitor program. Senators Alex Padilla and Mark Warner led the group in writing the letter.
What Happens on Election Day
The monitors will work alongside personnel from U.S. Attorney’s Offices and federal observers. They are tasked with watching for compliance with federal voting laws. This is different from the volunteer observers sent by political parties, as federal monitors have more power to report issues.
One specific case involves a Mexican national in Georgia who used a fake passport to vote. Another case in Alaska involves a Samoan national accused of voting in the 2024 presidential election. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The DOJ must now prove to Judge Walton that none of their staff are carrying guns or acting as police.
