DOJ sending 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states

Ben Berkowitz

Empty seats at a polling place with a sign that says "Poll Watchers Sit Here" — An area reserved for poll watchers at a polling place in South Carolina. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Justice Department said Tuesday it will deploy about 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states for the first time ever to watch the polls.

Why it matters: The unprecedented effort comes after courts repeatedly rejected the DOJ's efforts to force states to restrict voting for alleged noncitizens.

It comes amid a long-running Trump administration push to fight voter fraud, which studies say isn't nearly as prevalent as the administration suggests.
DOJ previously announced its plans to deploy 1,000 monitors. It monitored 86 jurisdictions across 27 states in the 2024 presidential election, the most since 2004.

Driving the news: The department, in a statement early Tuesday, said one of its most important goals was to protect election integrity.

"Today, the DOJ will further this mission by engaging in its largest monitoring effort in history—with approximately 1,000 election monitors and observers deployed, and, for the first time, in all 50 states," the department said.
The department said observers would come from the DOJ, U.S. Attorney's offices, and staff from the Office of Personnel Management.

What they're saying: "I am very proud we are deploying the largest monitoring effort in DOJ history, and pursuing transparency for elections in an assertive and nondiscriminatory manner," assistant attorney general Harmeet K. Dhillon said in the statement.

The intrigue: Some local election officials have already expressed concerns that such a massive wave of observers could intimidate or otherwise interfere with voters.

What to watch: The DOJ is still pursuing legal efforts in multiple states to have ballots segregated or otherwise impact counting.

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DOJ sending 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states

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