In a significant move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing to deploy federal election observers to California and New Jersey in the upcoming month. This initiative is a response to requests from state Republican parties, targeting two key Democratic states that will be conducting off-year elections on November 4. The DOJ announced on Friday that it will monitor polling sites in Passaic County, New Jersey, as well as five counties in southern and central California: Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside, and Fresno.
The primary objective of this monitoring effort, according to the DOJ, is to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law during the electoral process. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the importance of transparency at the polls, stating, “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.”
While election monitoring is a routine function for the Justice Department, the focus on California and New Jersey comes at a critical time. Both states are set to hold elections that could have significant national consequences. New Jersey is facing an open gubernatorial seat that has attracted substantial spending from both parties, while California is conducting a special election that aims to redraw the state’s congressional map in response to Republican gerrymandering efforts ahead of the 2026 midterms.
This initiative is part of the GOP's ongoing focus on election integrity, particularly following former President Donald Trump's unfounded claims regarding the 2020 election results and mail-in voting. Democrats are wary that the new administration may leverage similar baseless allegations of fraud to gain an advantage in the upcoming midterms.
The announcement follows letters from the Republican parties in both states requesting the DOJ's assistance. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin criticized the DOJ's decision, calling it “highly inappropriate” and asserting that the department has failed to provide a legitimate basis for its actions. Meanwhile, Rusty Hicks, chair of the California Democratic Party, stated that “No amount of election interference by the California Republican Party is going to silence the voices of California voters.”
The California GOP's letter, sent earlier in the week, requested that Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, dispatch monitors to the identified counties. GOP Chairwoman Corrin Rankin expressed concerns about recent reports of irregularities in these areas that could undermine voter participation and confidence in election results. California voters will be casting ballots on a redistricting proposition that could potentially add up to five additional Democratic seats to the U.S. House delegation.
Rankin's letter highlighted problems such as incorrect or duplicate ballots sent to voters and raised concerns about how Los Angeles and Orange counties manage their voter rolls. California is currently one of at least eight states that the DOJ has sued for detailed voter roll information, although the department has not disclosed the specific reasons for its data requests.
Brandon Richards, a spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom, argued that the DOJ lacks standing to interfere with California’s elections, which involve only state-specific initiatives and no federal races. He characterized the deployment of federal observers as an intimidation tactic aimed at suppressing voter turnout. Conversely, Orange County Registrar of Voters Bob Page welcomed observers, noting that it is common to have local, state, federal, and even international observers involved in election operations. Page described Orange County’s elections as “accessible, accurate, fair, secure, and transparent.”
Los Angeles County Clerk Dean Logan added that election observers are standard practice nationwide, asserting that the county continuously updates and verifies its voter records. With approximately 5.8 million registered voters, Los Angeles County is committed to ensuring that ballots are securely handled and accurately counted. Most Californians utilize mail-in ballots, which are returned through the postal service, drop boxes, or local voting centers. This system often results in quieter polling places on Election Day, but it has led to a reputation for extended ballot counting periods.
In New Jersey, the request for federal monitors mirrors the concerns raised by California Republicans. The New Jersey Republican State Committee’s letter requested that the DOJ oversee the receipt and processing of vote-by-mail ballots and monitor access to the Board of Elections in Passaic County ahead of the gubernatorial election. This county, which has transitioned from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican-leaning area in recent elections, is viewed as critical for GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli's campaign against Democrat Mikie Sherrill.
The letter from New Jersey Republicans referenced past cases of voter fraud, including a judge ordering a new election for a city council seat in Paterson after allegations of fraud arose. Attorney General Platkin reiterated the state's commitment to ensuring fair and secure elections, stating that the attorney general’s office is considering all options to prevent any efforts to intimidate voters or interfere with the electoral process.
It is essential to note that local election offices across the country routinely have observers from both political parties to ensure compliance with electoral rules. The DOJ has a longstanding history of sending monitors to areas with voting rights violations to ensure adherence to federal civil rights laws. During the previous Biden administration, some Republican-led states voiced opposition to federal monitors accessing voting locations on Election Day, highlighting the contentious nature of federal involvement in local elections.
Despite ongoing claims from Trump about widespread fraud in mail-in voting, research has consistently shown no evidence supporting these allegations. Earlier this year, Trump even announced a pledge to ban mail-in voting nationwide, despite lacking the constitutional authority to do so. The DOJ's monitoring efforts will be overseen by Dhillon’s Civil Rights Division, coordinating personnel with U.S. attorney’s offices and collaborating with state and local officials. The department is also open to additional monitoring requests from other jurisdictions.
David Becker, a former DOJ attorney and election monitor, emphasized that the monitoring work is typically carried out by department lawyers who do not interfere at polling places. He noted that local jurisdictions usually welcome the presence of monitors. However, if the administration attempted to send monitors without a clear legal basis to areas where local officials opposed their presence, it could lead to significant disruptions.
