WASHINGTON (7News) — The U.S. Department of Justice is monitoring 86 counties and cities across 27 states to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws.
Prince George's County, Maryland, and Loudoun County, Virginia are among the jurisdictions the DOJ said it will monitor during the Nov. 5 general election.
Tuesday’s federal election monitoring plan is the most extensive in two decades. Justice Department officials said they are committed to safeguarding citizen’s voting rights in a polarized political landscape.
Historically, the DOJ has monitored polling locations across the country to make sure federal voting rights laws are followed. These efforts are part of a longstanding mission to protect vulnerable populations and prevent unlawful partisan influence, DOJ officials said.
The scale of the 2024 deployment represents a 49% increase from 2020, highlighting heightened concerns about voter suppression and potential interference at the polls. This increased federal oversight has not come without pushback. Some Republican-led states, including Florida and Missouri, have indicated they will attempt to bar federal monitors from entering polling sites, citing state laws that limit who can access polling locations. Despite this resistance, the DOJ said it stands by its authority and intent to ensure fair voting practices across the country.
DOJ monitors will maintain contact with local election officials and report any issues they obverse to the Department of Justice.
If you have any issues about any possible violations of federal voting rights laws, the DOJ asks that you submit acomplaint through the Civil Rights Division’s internet reporting portal at www.civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.
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