PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The U.S. Justice Department said it will send election monitors to Philadelphia and other Pennsylvania counties to observe next week’s midterm elections.
The DOJ sent a letter to Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt saying the monitors would be sent to Philadelphia, Lehigh, Allegheny and Luzerne counties.
Justice officials said the monitors will “only observe and take notes” and will “not intrude or interfere in any way in the voting process.” They said they will follow all state and jurisdictional laws.
Election monitors are required to identify themselves to the polling place manager; they do not, however, wear badges or anything that indicates they’re with the Justice Department. They also are not allowed to talk to voters or carry guns.
This is not new; the DOJ under the Biden administration sent monitors to Philly. Both parties have also sent their own monitors to the polls.
“It is pretty common,” said Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy. “This has happened before. Each of these counties have allowed the monitors to go into the polling places. It’s at the county’s discretion. And, they are governed by the rules of Pennsylvania … when they go into these polling places.”
Cristella said typically, DOJ monitors are there to make sure that there’s compliance with laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Voting Rights Act.
Critics of the Trump administration have their antennas up because of the president’s ongoing rhetoric and recent legal actions. President Donald Trump told his administration to file a lawsuit to block certification of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses. In California, the Trump administration sued election officials, asking a judge to bar the state from counting mail-in ballots from people the federal government has identified as “likely” noncitizens until their immigration status can be confirmed.
Trump has been sowing seeds of doubt in the election process for many years, despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the country.
Cristella said anyone who encounters problems on Election Day can call 866-OUR-VOTE for assistance.
Election Day is one week away, on Nov. 3. Tuesday, Oct. 27, is the deadline to request mail-in or absentee ballots. Your county election office must receive the application by 5 p.m.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Poll watchers also being sent to Lehigh, Allegheny and Luzerne counties
Poll watchers also being sent to Lehigh, Allegheny and Luzerne counties
