US Justice Department to send election observers to California, New Jersey

"The United States Department of Justice is preparing to send federal election observers to California and New Jersey next month, targeting two Democratic strongholds holding off-year elections following requests from state Republican parties. The Justice Department announced Friday that it is planning to monitor polling sites in Passaic County, New Jersey, and five counties in southern and central California: Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside and Fresno."

"The goal, according to the department, is to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law. 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, Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement to The Associated Press. Election monitoring is a routine function of the Justice Department."

"New Jersey has an open seat for governor that has attracted major spending by both parties, and California is holding a special election aimed at redrawing the state's congressional map to counter Republican gerrymandering efforts elsewhere in the run-up to the 2026 midterms. The Justice Department's efforts are also the latest salvo in the Republican Party's preoccupation with election integrity, after President Donald Trump spent years refusing to accept the results of the 2020 election."

Federal election observers will be deployed to New Jersey and California next month after requests from state Republican parties. The monitoring will cover Passaic County and five California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside and Fresno. The stated goals are transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law to maintain public confidence in elections. The deployment comes as New Jersey faces an open gubernatorial race and California holds a special election to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. Some Democrats express concern the effort aligns with Republicans' focus on election integrity and fears of politically motivated fraud allegations.

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