DOJ to Send Federal Election Observers to California and New Jersey

Strategic Insights -

The Department of Justice is set to deploy federal election observers to California and New Jersey, targeting two Democratic states holding off-year elections following requests from state Republican parties. The DOJ announced its plan to monitor polling sites in Passaic County, New Jersey, and five counties in southern and central California, aiming to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law. This move comes as both states are set to hold closely watched elections with national consequences on November 4, amidst fears of voter suppression and intimidation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The DOJ's effort to monitor elections in California and New Jersey is a routine function, but the focus on these two states is unprecedented, with both states holding off-year elections with national implications.
  • The decision comes after requests from state Republican parties, citing concerns over irregularities and voter fraud, particularly in the five counties in California where the monitors will be deployed.
  • Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that the goal is to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law, with monitors to observe the receipt and processing of vote-by-mail ballots and monitor access to the Board of Elections.
  • The New Jersey Attorney General's office blasted the decision, calling it "highly inappropriate," while a California GOP letter to the DOJ asked for monitors to oversee the election in the five counties.
  • The move has sparked concerns over voter intimidation and suppression, with local election officials and advocacy groups warning of a potential backlash.
  • The DOJ's Civil Rights Division will oversee the effort, deploying personnel in coordination with U.S. attorney's offices and state and local officials.
  • The department has not specified why it wants data from at least half the states, but California is one of the states that has been sued by the DOJ as part of a wide-ranging request.

Statistics:

  • Five counties in southern and central California (Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside, and Fresno) will have federal monitors deployed.
  • At least 5.8 million registered voters in Los Angeles County alone.
  • California's elections are primarily mail-based, with most voters casting their ballots through the postal service, drop boxes, or local voting centers.
  • The DOJ has a long history of sending observers to jurisdictions with histories of voting rights violations.
  • The department's effort will be overseen by Harmeet Dhillon's Civil Rights Division.

Sources:

  • AP – Attorney General Pamela Bondi
  • [a href="https://www.apnews.com/article/california-election-monitors-being-sent-by-doj-3a809c42715a81bf76b216341921126b"]AP – "DOJ to send federal election observers to California and New Jersey"
  • [a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announce-federal-election-monitoring-operations-california-and-new-jersey"]Justice.gov – "Justice Department Announce Federal Election Monitoring Operations in California and New Jersey"
  • [a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/09/22/california-new-jersey-election-monitors-doj/"]Washington Post – "Justice Department to send federal election monitors to California and New Jersey"