The Department of Justice announced that it will monitor polling sites in six jurisdictions across California and New Jersey for the November 4 general election.
Federal monitors will oversee locations in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Kern, and Fresno counties in California, along with Passaic County in New Jersey. The deployment marks the latest federal effort to ensure election integrity and voter access ahead of next month’s contests.
The monitoring program aims to verify compliance with federal voting rights laws while maintaining transparency at polling locations.
“Transparency at the polls translates into faith in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to upholding the highest standards of election integrity,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a DOJ news release. “We will commit the resources necessary to ensure the American people get the fair, free, and transparent elections they deserve.”
The Civil Rights Division will lead the monitoring effort under Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. Personnel will coordinate with local U.S. Attorney’s offices in both states.
“The Department of Justice will do everything necessary to protect the votes of eligible American citizens, ensuring our elections are safe and secure,” Dhillon said. “Transparent election processes and election monitoring are critical tools for safeguarding our elections and ensuring public trust in the integrity of our elections.”
Federal monitors will observe polling operations to ensure compliance with multiple voting rights statutes. These include the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, and the Help America Vote Act.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of California’s Central District emphasized the stakes involved.
“Our democracy depends on free and fair elections,” Essayli said. “We will work tirelessly to uphold and protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Justice Department regularly deploys staff to monitor elections nationwide. This year’s effort focuses on maintaining open communication between poll observers and election monitors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, serving as Special Attorney for New Jersey’s District, outlined the monitoring goals.
“Election protection means making sure every eligible voter can participate freely and every lawful vote is counted,” Habba said. “Our office is committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure transparency, security, and public confidence in the election process.”
Civil Rights Division personnel will field questions and complaints about potential voting rights violations through Election Day. Citizens can request monitoring in additional jurisdictions by contacting the Voting Section at [email protected].
Federal monitoring has become a standard practice in recent election cycles to address concerns about ballot access and security.