Republican-led states such as Florida, Texas, and Missouri have announced their intention to prevent federal election monitors from entering polling places on Election Day. This move challenges the long-standing practice of federal authorities monitoring for violations of federal voting laws.
Who are the election monitors?
Election monitors are lawyers employed by the Justice Department, specifically in the civil rights division and U.S. attorney's offices. They are not law enforcement officers or federal agents. These monitors are responsible for ensuring compliance with federal voting rights laws, including the Voting Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Where are election monitors being sent?
The Justice Department is deploying monitors to 86 jurisdictions across 27 states, including areas like Maricopa County, Arizona, and Fulton County, Georgia. Other locations on the list include Detroit, Michigan; Queens, New York; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What's happening in Missouri?
Missouri has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block federal officials from observing inside polling places. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft argues that state law restricts who can be present in voting locations and accuses the federal government of illegal interference in the state's elections.
What are the other states saying?
Texas and Florida have also pushed back against the Justice Department's election monitoring efforts. Both states have cited their own laws that do not permit federal officials inside polling places. Instead, they plan to deploy their own monitors to ensure the integrity of the voting process.
