PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Pennsylvania Department of State reiterated Tuesday that election monitors sent to the commonwealth will be bound by state and federal laws on Election Day.
The federal Department of Justice has announced plans to send 1,000 monitors across the country, including to Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.
“DOJ monitors are not legally entitled to any greater access to polling places than any member of the public,” said Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt. “The Pennsylvania Department of State expects everyone working in, voting in and observing polling places to follow all state and federal laws.”
Under applicable laws, monitors can only watch and take notes. They can not carry guns, threaten, harass or intimidate voters. Voters’ eligibility cannot be challenged based on race, national origin, appearance, last name, language, religion or other protected characteristics.
The Trump administration has made unfounded accusations that there are large numbers of non-citizens who cast votes or are on voter registration lists nationwide.
Sending federal monitors to polling places is common. President Biden did so for the 2022 midterms.
