The Department of Justice (DOJ) of Friday announced it would send observers to monitor polling sites in six counties, five in California and one in New Jersey, when elections take place next month, sparking condemnation from the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Newsweek contacted the DOJ for comment via media inquiry form on Saturday outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Election integrity remains a key topic for Republicans with key GOP figures, including President Trump, continuing to insist the 2020 presidential election was rigged in Joe Biden’s favor despite this claim being dismissed repeatedly in court and by independent election observers.
The Trump administration has federalized and deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles and Washington D.C. in recent months, against the wishes of their respective mayors, and is hoping to replicate this in other Democrat-run cities. Trump argues the measure is needed to combat crime, but critics view it as executive overreach.
What To Know
In a press release published on Friday, the Justice Department announced it would monitor polling sites next month in parts of California and New Jersey “to ensure transparency, security, and compliance with federal law.”
This monitoring will be conducted by the department’s Civil Rights Division and cover polling locations in Passaic county, New Jersey, and Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside and Fresco counties in California.
On November 4, voters in New Jersey will elect a new governor, with recent polling giving Democrat Mikie Sherrill a narrow lead over Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli.
The day will also see a vote in California on whether to endorse Governor Newsom’s proposed redistricting, which could give the Democrats five additional House seats after the 2026 midterm elections. This is designed to counter a similar redistricting move initiated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Whether the proposal is accepted or rejected by California voters could help determine which party controls the House after the 2026 midterms.
The deployment of federal election observers was requested in California by the state’s Republican Party, which wrote to Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the DOJ’s Civil Rights Divison. In the letter, obtained by the Associated Press, California GOP chair Corrin Rankin said: “In recent elections, we have received reports of irregularities in these counties that we fear will undermine either the willingness of voters to participate in the election or their confidence in the announced results of the election.”
However, speaking to The Guardian, Brandon Richards, a spokesperson for Governor Newsom, accused the federal government of seeking to “interfere” with California’s elections, adding: “Deploying these federal forces appears to be an intimidation tactic meant for one thing: suppress the vote.”
The deployment of federal elections observers to local jurisdictions is not in itself unusual, and has been taking place for decades.
What People Are Saying
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement: “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. We will commit the resources necessary to ensure the American people get the fair, free, and transparent elections they deserve.”
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division said in a statement: “The Department of Justice will do everything necessary to protect the votes of eligible American citizens, ensuring our elections are safe and secure. Transparent election processes and election monitoring are critical tools for safeguarding our elections and ensuring public trust in the integrity of our elections.”
What Happens Next?
Voters in California and New Jersey will get to vote on November 4 to determine whether to accept Governor Newsom’s redistricting proposal, and select their new governor, respectively.
