DOJ election monitors will stay 100 feet from Adams County voting centers
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Federal election monitors plan to stay outside Adams County voting centers on Election Day after the Trump administration's Justice Department rejected Colorado's conditions for entering.
Why it matters: The standoff comes as concerns grow about federal interference in elections — and in a county that's part of Colorado's fiercely competitive 8th Congressional District race, where the outcome could help determine control of the U.S. House.
Driving the news: Secretary of State Jena Griswold told the U.S. Justice Department on Thursday that its four monitors could enter Adams County voting centers only if accompanied by state-appointed observers.
- The monitors also would be barred from speaking with voters, accessing voting equipment or interfering with election operations.
- The DOJ rejected those conditions, saying its monitors would instead adhere to a state law that requires unauthorized observers to stay at least 100 feet from voting centers, according to its response shared by Griswold's office.
What she's saying: "Ultimately, Coloradans are a little bit on edge," Griswold told Axios in an interview. "So [we are] making sure that we have really good oversight on any type of DOJ representative that would be in a voting center."
The other side: "State or local approval is not required for department monitoring," DOJ spokesperson Kiersten Pels told Axios, adding that federal monitors follow state and local polling place rules.
Catch up quick: Griswold amended election rules Oct. 9, requiring federal monitors to obtain state approval before entering voting centers.
- The DOJ's stated focus includes making sure Spanish-speaking voters have access to bilingual ballots and language assistance.
Between the lines: Adams County Clerk Josh Zygielbaum, a Democrat, has questioned the administration's motives, warning that the federal presence could intimidate voters.
- About half of Adams County voters wait until Election Day to vote, Zygielbaum told Colorado Politics, potentially putting monitors near voting centers during their busiest hours.
Zoom out: Federal election monitoring has long been used to enforce voting rights laws, but the Trump administration's plans have sparked disputes over election rules in states including Wyoming and Minnesota.
What's next: It's unclear how much federal monitors will be able to observe from outside voting centers on Nov. 3.
- Griswold warned that voter intimidation and interference are also illegal outside voting centers and pledged to take reports "seriously."