The Department of Justice sent election monitors to four California counties on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as part of what it called its largest election monitoring operation in history. Marin County was not on the list.
Approximately 1,000 monitors and observers deployed across all 50 states for the first time, according to a DOJ announcement. In California, monitors went to Los Angeles, Alameda, Sacramento and San Diego counties. The DOJ's Civil Rights Division coordinated the effort, with personnel from multiple DOJ components, U.S. Attorney's Offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management.
Monitors are checking compliance with federal voting rights laws, including the Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a statement that election integrity has been one of the top priorities for the administration.
Some voting-rights groups, including the NAACP, said they believe the deployment could suppress turnout and disenfranchise voters, particularly from minority groups, USA Today reported.
Voters with voting-rights questions or complaints can call the DOJ at 1-800-253-3931 or email [email protected]. ADA-related concerns can be directed to 800-514-0301.
