The Department of Justice announced that it will send election monitors to polling places in six jurisdictions ahead of the November 4, 2025, general election in California and New Jersey.
The initiative is intended to help ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal election laws, the department said in a press release.
Through its Civil Rights Division, the Department of Justice enforces federal voting rights laws designed to protect every eligible citizen’s access to the ballot.
The Department routinely deploys personnel to monitor elections across the country to ensure compliance with federal civil rights statutes, the release said.
“Transparency at the polls translates into faith in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to upholding the highest standards of election integrity,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will commit the resources necessary to ensure the American people get the fair, free, and transparent elections they deserve.”
According to the release, the DOJ will be sending poll monitors to the following locations:
- Passaic County, New Jersey
- Kern County, California
- Riverside County, California
- Fresno County, California
- Orange County, California
- Los Angeles County, California
Under the direction of Bondi, the initiative will be led by the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, headed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.
Civil Rights Division personnel will be deployed to the designated jurisdictions, where they will coordinate their efforts with local U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
“The Department of Justice will do everything necessary to protect the votes of eligible American citizens, ensuring our elections are safe and secure,” said Dhillon. “Transparent election processes and election monitoring are critical tools for safeguarding our elections and ensuring public trust in the integrity of our elections.”
Needless to say, Calif. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is opposed to the idea.
“Donald Trump’s puppet DOJ has no business screwing around with next month’s election. Sending the feds into California polling places is a deliberate attempt to scare off voters and undermine a fair election. We will not back down. Californians decide our future — no one else,” he said on X.
However, critics have long accused Democrats like Newsom of bending or ignoring federal statutes to ensure that illegal aliens, of which there are millions in California, were able to vote.
The initiative is intended to promote transparency and facilitate clear communication between poll observers and federal election monitors, helping to ensure that elections are conducted securely and in accordance with federal standards.
“Our democracy depends on free and fair elections,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. “We will work tirelessly to uphold and protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.
Noted Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba of the District of New Jersey: “Election protection means making sure every eligible voter can participate freely and every lawful vote is counted. Our office is committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure transparency, security, and public confidence in the election process.”
From now through Election Day, Civil Rights Division staff will be available to respond to questions and receive complaints from the public regarding potential violations of federal voting rights laws, the DOJ said.
Meanwhile, the White House celebrated a “busy two weeks” of accomplishments, domestically and globally, that included President Trump being heavily involved in peace processes as foreign investments continue to pour into the country and prices – including gasoline – fell, while Democrats kept the government shut down.
