DOJ deploys about 1,000 election monitors and observers in all 50 states for the midterms

On Election Day 3 November the Justice Department said it was running its largest monitoring effort in department history: roughly 1,000 monitors and observers, for the first time covering every state, coordinated by the Civil Rights Division with U.S. Attorney’s Offices and OPM federal observers. The release lists intended jurisdictions county by county and points voters to DOJ complaint lines—not to a change in who may vote.

Verified November 3, 20262 primary sourcesLean methodCorrections

By Daily Teabag Desk

Published Nov 3, 2026, 7:08 a.m. EST

LeanCentre(0)Methodology

LeftCentreRight

Why this lean: Reports DOJ’s Election Day monitoring staffing announcement from the OPA primary, including the 1,000 / 50-state claims and jurisdiction list, without treating the deployment as evidence of local misconduct. Scored 0.

ShareX / Twitter Bluesky LinkedIn Email

The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, D.C. (illustrative) — Photo: Gunnar Klack, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, D.C. (illustrative). Photo: Gunnar Klack, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On Tuesday 3 November 2026, Election Day, DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs announced what it called the department’s largest election-monitoring effort in its history: about 1,000 election monitors and observers, deployed for the first time in all 50 states. The Civil Rights Division is coordinating the work. Personnel are drawn from that division, other DOJ components, U.S. Attorney’s Offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management. Division staff are to keep contact with state and local election officials through the day.

What monitors are supposed to check

According to the release, monitors look for compliance with federal voting-rights statutes the Division enforces, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts. The Disability Rights Section covers ADA access at the polls. The Criminal Section’s remit, as stated, is intimidation or suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said election integrity has been a top priority and described the deployment as “assertive and nondiscriminatory.” The release does not claim monitors can overturn local counts or seize ballots.

Where DOJ says it will be

The announcement lists intended counties and cities in every state—from Anchorage, Dillingham and Kusilvak in Alaska to Maricopa and Pima in Arizona, Fulton and Cobb in Georgia, Philadelphia and Allegheny in Pennsylvania, and dozens more. Inclusion on the list is DOJ’s stated plan, not proof that a particular precinct had a problem.

Citizen impact

Eligible voters still cast ballots under state law. DOJ published a hotline (1-800-253-3931), email (VEM@usdoj.gov) and civil-rights complaint portal for federal voting-rights questions. Polling-place disruptions should still go first to local election officials; threats or violence to local police (911), then to DOJ. This is a staffing and oversight announcement on Election Day, not a new statute.

On the watchlist

U.S. — DOJ Election Day monitoring (all 50 states, ~1,000 monitors)OPA release 3 Nov 2026; Election Day deployment underway · updated 2026-11-03

The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, D.C. (illustrative) — Photo: APK, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Accountability|United States

DOJ announces charges involving 63 people for alleged illegal voting and registration on the eve of the midterms

On Monday 2 November the Justice Department said it had charged 63 individuals—including four it described as illegal aliens—with illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration and related offences. Most of the named defendants are lawful permanent residents. DOJ also claimed 195 noncitizen voting/registration charges in nine weeks and 239 since the administration began. The release is an accusation list, not a set of convictions.

Daily Teabag Desk·November 3, 2026Centre

The Federal Building at 605 West Fourth Avenue in Anchorage, the city’s historic federal post office and courthouse (illustrative; the case was heard in Anchorage’s federal court) — Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Accountability|United States

Judge Gleason throws out DOJ’s Alaska ‘second Sullivan’ ballot suit; DOJ files notice of appeal the same day

On Sunday 1 November, Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed United States v. State of Alaska (No. 3:26-cv-00376-SLG) for lack of standing. She found the court could not order ballots ranking Daniel J. Sullivan set aside for a law-enforcement inquiry into voters’ intent without breaching the secret ballot, and refused leave to amend. DOJ filed a notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit hours later. Alaska votes on Tuesday under the existing ballot.

Daily Teabag Desk·November 2, 2026Centre

The twin towers of the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, home of the Northern District of California’s Oakland courthouse — Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, public domain (Library of Congress), via Wikimedia Commons

Accountability|United States

Ninth Circuit keeps block on DHS voter-fraud field operations against suspected citizens in nine states through Election Day

On 30 October a Ninth Circuit panel (Thomas, Wardlaw, Johnstone) refused to pause a district-court injunction. The injunction stops DHS from election-related field operations and interviews in nine states when agents know, or should suspect, that the person is a U.S. citizen. A vote to rehear the order en banc failed the same day over a seven-judge dissent. The injunction ends when voting closes on 3 November.

Daily Teabag Desk·October 31, 2026Centre

The portico and lettering of the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau (illustrative) — Photo: Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Accountability|United States

DOJ asks Anchorage federal judge to set aside every ballot ranking the second ‘Dan Sullivan’ in Alaska’s Senate race

In United States v. State of Alaska (No. 3:26-cv-00376-SLG), DOJ filed a motion on 30 October asking the court to order the state to “preserve and segregate all ballots ranking Daniel J. Sullivan”, a first-time candidate running against Sen. Dan Sullivan. Its amended complaint also asks the court to block certification of any result “that may be impacted by voter confusion”. The state, the Peltola campaign and the DSCC, and a group of voter organisations have all moved to dismiss. Judge Sharon Gleason set replies for noon today, Alaska time. Update 1 November: case dismissed for lack of standing; DOJ has appealed.

Daily Teabag Desk·October 31, 2026Centre

What monitors are supposed to check

Where DOJ says it will be

Citizen impact

On the watchlist

Related coverage

DOJ announces charges involving 63 people for alleged illegal voting and registration on the eve of the midterms

Judge Gleason throws out DOJ’s Alaska ‘second Sullivan’ ballot suit; DOJ files notice of appeal the same day

Ninth Circuit keeps block on DHS voter-fraud field operations against suspected citizens in nine states through Election Day

DOJ asks Anchorage federal judge to set aside every ballot ranking the second ‘Dan Sullivan’ in Alaska’s Senate race