Federal Election Watch: DOJ to Deploy 1,000 Monitors Nationwide
Plainclothes observers will watch polling places in Prince George's County on Tuesday, though local officials stress they will only take notes.
By Isaac Medina ·
The U.S. Department of Justice will place approximately 1,000 federal election monitors at polling locations across the country on Election Day, including sites in Prince George's County. The agency stated that these observers are tasked with watching the process and recording data, but they will not interfere with voters or election workers.
Local residents expressed mixed feelings about the federal presence. While many voters told NBC4 Washington they feel confident in the electoral process, others cited concerns about voter intimidation and the integrity of the vote. One voter noted that newer participants are coming out to ensure their ballots are counted, aiming to secure a better future for their children. Another described the current political climate as difficult, stating that the situation is not good for anyone.
Jared DeMarinis, the Maryland State Administrator of Elections, clarified that this practice is not new. He explained that federal monitors have served this role in previous cycles. Their strict mandate is to observe and take notes. They cannot intrude, interfere, or interject in the voting process in any way.
The decision to send monitors has drawn attention due to recent legal actions. The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits in several states ahead of the election, raising questions about how the information gathered by these observers might be utilized. Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary's College of Maryland, said the move has made people nervous. He pointed to the president's previous reluctance to accept election results he lost as a reason for the anxiety.
Eberly noted that the primary uncertainty lies in whether the monitors will stick to their traditional observational role. He also raised the question of whether other federal agents, such as those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, might appear at or near polling places. The Trump administration has not provided a clear answer on how it might deploy these additional agents.
A Department of Justice official confirmed that no FBI or ICE agents will serve as the federal election monitors on Tuesday. The monitors will work in plainclothes and will not identify themselves to voters. This approach means that many casters may not even realize a federal observer is present in their polling place.
Early voting concludes at 8 p.m. on Thursday. The State Board of Elections and Prince George's County officials are scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the specific details of the monitoring process.
