Overview
- The department confirmed observers will be sent for the Nov. 4 elections to Passaic County, N.J., and to Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside and Fresno counties in California.
- The deployment follows formal requests from the Republican parties in both states citing alleged irregularities and voter-roll issues.
- Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate with U.S. attorneys and local officials to monitor compliance with federal law.
- Democratic officials, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, criticized the plan as inappropriate or intimidating, while county election leaders said outside observers are routine.
- DOJ officials said they are considering additional monitoring requests as California votes on a redistricting measure and New Jersey holds a closely watched governor’s race.