The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it’s plan to monitor 64 jurisdictions in 24 states for compliance with federal voting rights laws.
DOJ election monitors were from the Department’s radical Civil Rights Division, the DOJ’s 94 U.S. Attorney’s offices, and the Office of Personnel Management. The Civil Rights Division has monitored elections since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. The DOJ said in a statement that the Civil Rights Division has been seeing to protect access to the ballot for all Americans.
States that were closely watched by federal officials include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
“The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Civil Rights Acts,” according to the statement.
“The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion,” the statement continued.
A week before the midterms, multiple complaints of alleged voter intimidation were sent to the DOJ by Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs.
“Voter intimidation is illegal, and no voter should feel threatened or intimidated when trying to vote. Anyone attempting to interfere with that right should be reported,” Hobbs’ office said in a statement. “Voter harassment may include gathering around ballot drop boxes questioning voters, brandishing weapons, taking pictures of people voting and following or chasing voters who are attempting to drop off their ballots, and it can all be considered voter intimidation. It is unacceptable.”
Reports from ABC News, five recorded complaints included instances of individuals loitering near drop boxes, filming and photographing voters returning ballots, and taking photos of the license plates of people who had just dropped off their ballots.
