DOJ to Deploy Federal Election Monitors to Four Pennsylvania Counties

The U.S. Department of Justice notified Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt last week that it will deploy federal election monitors to polling places in four counties on election day. The designated counties for this deployment are Allegheny, Lehigh, Luzerne, and Philadelphia.

This initiative is part of a broader nationwide effort by the Justice Department. Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the DOJ Civil Rights Division, stated that the agency intends to deploy one thousand election monitors across all fifty states on November 3, representing a larger deployment than is typical.

Federal election monitors serve a strictly observational function during the voting process. According to official correspondence sent to Secretary Schmidt, the monitors are prohibited from interfering with voting activities and possess no greater access to polling locations than members of the general public.

The letter to the state official emphasized that monitors observe and take notes without intruding or interfering in any way, while adhering to all state and jurisdictional rules. Historically, the Justice Department has deployed election monitors under both Democratic and Republican administrations, primarily focusing on observing compliance with the Voting Rights Act, such as ensuring access to required language services.

The Justice Department communications noted that the monitors will introduce themselves to poll managers but will not wear uniforms or identifying pins. Furthermore, they are forbidden from carrying firearms and are not permitted to converse with voters inside the polling areas. If monitors notice any issues, they are authorized to notify Justice Department personnel, who may subsequently contact the relevant local jurisdiction.

Pennsylvania Department of State spokesperson Matt Heckel addressed the announcement in a public statement. The department expects all individuals working, voting, and observing at polling places to comply with applicable state and federal laws, and encourages DOJ monitors to coordinate with local election offices to ensure their activities do not disrupt the voting process.

Local officials in the affected areas noted that such monitoring is not an unprecedented event. Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo stated during a virtual press conference that the Justice Department also sent election monitors to her county during the 2022 and 2024 elections, adding that the county has nothing to hide and will follow state law.

In addition to federal monitors, other organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union also plan to send observers to polling sites. Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett remarked that deploying monitors in specific locations is a routine practice and emphasized that these observers are strictly barred from participating in partisan activities.