DOJ to deploy nearly 1,000 election observers across all 50 states for midterms for first time
The operation, coordinated by the Civil Rights Division, represents the largest deployment of election monitoring in the history of the Department of Justice. Officials will monitor compliance with federal laws that protect the right to vote during Tuesday's midterm elections.
Image from the DOJ
The Department of Justice (DOJ) will deploy nearly 1,000 election monitors and observers across all 50 states, in what it described as the largest election monitoring operation in its history. This marks the first time the agency has extended this type of monitoring to all states on a single election day.
According to a statement released by the agency on Nov. 3, the operation is coordinated by the Civil Rights Division and involves staff from that division, other divisions and components of the Department of Justice, federal prosecutors' offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
On Election Day, officials from the Civil Rights Division will maintain contact with state and local election authorities to monitor compliance with federal provisions related to the right to vote.
Politics
A judge dismisses Trump's lawsuit seeking to intervene in the Alaska Senate election
Williams Perdomo
What Department of Justice observers will be monitoring
The operation will focus on verifying compliance with federal voting rights laws that fall under the jurisdiction of the Civil Rights Division.
These include the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, legislation protecting the right to vote for military personnel and U.S. citizens abroad (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act), and civil rights laws.
The Disability Rights Section will also monitor compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with the goal of ensuring that people with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in the elections.
The Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division is responsible for enforcing federal laws that prohibit voter intimidation and suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.
The Department of Justice noted that it has been deploying election observers since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, under various administrations. However, this Tuesday's operation marks a historic expansion of its geographic scope.
How to report irregularities on Election Day
Citizens can contact the agency's election hotline at 1-800-253-3931, send an email to VEM@usdoj.gov or file a complaint through the Civil Rights Division's official website: civilrights.justice.gov/report.
For complaints specifically related to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the agency has a separate hotline: 1-800-514-0301, as well as the TTY number 1-833-610-1264.
The DOJ specified that any disruptions or disturbances at polling places should be reported to local election authorities. In the event of violence, threats or intimidation at polling places, citizens should immediately contact the police by dialing 911 and then report the incident to the Department of Justice.
The initiative is part of the federal government's efforts to monitor compliance with election laws and protect the right to vote during the 2026 midterm elections.
🛠 Do you think there is an error in this article?
Recommendations
LATEST
