DOJ Plans Election Monitors in Four States

The Justice Department plans to deploy about 1,000 election monitors nationwide for the November 3 midterms, including in Michigan, Utah, Indiana and Colorado. DOJ describes the effort as the largest such monitoring plan in department history. Michigan cities expected to receive monitors include Detroit, East Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hamtramck, Lansing and Warren. Indiana selected Marion and Lake counties. Michigan and Colorado rules say monitors cannot speak with voters, handle ballots or equipment, carry firearms, or interfere with voting. Utah officials do not yet know how many monitors will be sent or where they will be stationed. CONTESTED: Some Republican officials and Michigan leaders describe the monitoring as routine. Utah Democrats and the Forward Party criticize it as potentially intimidating or politically motivated. Utah's deployment follows a DOJ demand for unredacted voter rolls and an investigation of Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson after she refused to provide them. Indiana officials say they received little explanation for the county selections.