DOJ Launches What Looks Like The Biggest Election Protection Effort In US History

The Justice Department is monitoring the midterm election in 24 states in what looks to be the biggest election protection effort in US history.

The DOJ said in a statement:

The Justice Department announced its plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 64 jurisdictions in 24 states for the November 8, 2022 general election. Since the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Civil Rights Division has regularly monitored elections in the field in jurisdictions around the country to protect voters’ rights. The Civil Rights Division will also take complaints from the public nationwide regarding possible violations of the federal voting rights laws through its call center. The Civil Rights Division enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot.   

For the general election, the Civil Rights Division will monitor compliance with the federal voting rights laws on Election Day and/or early voting in 64 jurisdictions.

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Monitors will include personnel from the Civil Rights Division and from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. In addition, the division also deploys monitors from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order. Division personnel will also maintain contact with state and local election officials.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Civil Rights Acts. The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion. 

Many of the places that the DOJ is on the scene and monitoring are also, not surprisingly, areas that Republicans have targeted for voter intimidation. The effort looks to be the biggest election protection effort in the nation’s history. Nearly half of the states in the nation will have DOJ monitors on hand.

When he became Attorney General, Merrick Garland said that protecting voting rights was his top priority.

Garland is putting DOJ resources behind protecting voting rights for every American.

Here is the list of locations that the DOJ is monitoring:

• City of Bethel, Alaska;
• Dillingham Census Area, Alaska;
• Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska;
• Sitka City-Borough, Alaska;
• Maricopa County, Arizona;
• Navajo County, Arizona;
• Pima County, Arizona;
• Pinal County, Arizona;
• Yavapai County, Arizona;
• Newton County, Arkansas;
• Los Angeles County, California;
• Sonoma County, California;
• Broward County, Florida;
• Miami-Dade County, Florida;
• Palm Beach County, Florida;
• Cobb County, Georgia;
• Fulton County, Georgia;
• Gwinnett County, Georgia;
• Town of Clinton, Massachusetts;
• City of Everett, Massachusetts;
• City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts;
• City of Leominster, Massachusetts;
• City of Malden, Massachusetts;
• City of Methuen, Massachusetts;
• City of Randolph, Massachusetts;
• City of Salem, Massachusetts;
• Prince George’s County, Maryland;
• City of Detroit, Michigan;
• City of Flint, Michigan;
• City of Grand Rapids, Michigan;
• City of Pontiac, Michigan;
• City of Southfield, Michigan;
• City of Minneapolis, Minnesota;
• Hennepin County, Minnesota;
• Ramsey County, Minnesota;
• Cole County, Missouri;
• Alamance County, North Carolina;
• Columbus County, North Carolina;
• Harnett County, North Carolina;
• Mecklenburg County, North Carolina;
• Wayne County, North Carolina;
• Middlesex County, New Jersey;
• Bernalillo County, New Mexico;
• San Juan County, New Mexico;
• Clark County, Nevada;
• Washoe County, Nevada;
• Queens County, New York;
• Cuyahoga County, Ohio;
• Berks County, Pennsylvania;
• Centre County, Pennsylvania;
• Lehigh County, Pennsylvania;
• Luzerne County, Pennsylvania;
• Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania;
• City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island;
• Horry County, South Carolina;
• Dallas County, Texas;
• Harris County, Texas;
• Waller County, Texas;
• San Juan County, Utah;
• City of Manassas, Virginia;
• City of Manassas Park, Virginia;
• Prince William County, Virginia;
• City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and,
• City of Racine, Wisconsin.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association