Overview
- Justice Department staff are observing polling places in Kern, Riverside, Fresno, Orange and Los Angeles counties in California, as well as Passaic County in New Jersey.
- The department says the mission is to ensure transparency, ballot security and compliance with federal law, with deployments requested by the California and New Jersey Republican parties.
- California and New Jersey officials question the legal basis, send state observers to monitor the federal teams, and remind counties that outside observers cannot handle ballots or interact with voters.
- DOJ leaders emphasize the monitors are non‑enforcement attorneys restricted to observing, while ICE says it will not target polling locations but may arrest a dangerous criminal encountered near a site during separate operations.
- Early turnout data show Latino participation tracking with past elections and, in some areas, heightened engagement, as California officials publicly assure voters that polling places remain safe and accessible.