U.S. Department of Justice to send record number of observers to monitor 86 electoral districts
The US Department of Justice has announced that it will send observers to 86 electoral districts in 27 states on Election Day on 5 November. This was reported by the Washington Post.
This is the largest number in the last 20 years, due to concerns about possible pressure on voters and party influence.
The list includes seven ‘swing’ states: observers will visit six counties in Michigan, five in Georgia, four in Wisconsin and Arizona, three in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and one in Nevada.
Observers will also be working in California, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio and Virginia. Texas and Massachusetts have the largest number of counties under observation.
The DOJ’s statement caused outrage among Republicans in Florida and Missouri, who have restricted federal observers’ access to polling stations since 2022.
Officials in some Republican-leaning states have also said they may ban federal observer visits, calling them interference by the Joe Biden administration in the election.
