Some Republican-led states refuse to let Justice Department monitors into polling places
Source: AP
Updated 2:40 PM EST, November 4, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) Some Republican-led states say they will block the Justice Departments election monitors from going inside polling places on Election Day, pushing back on federal authorities decades-long practice of watching for violations of federal voting laws.
Officials in Florida and Texas have said they wont allow federal election monitors into polling sites on Tuesday. And on Monday, Missouri filed a federal lawsuit seeking a court order to block federal officials from observing inside polling places.
The Justice Department announced last week that its deploying election monitors in 86 jurisdictions across 27 states on Election Day. The Justice Department declined to comment on Monday on the Missouri lawsuit and the moves by other Republican-led states.
The race between Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump is a dead heat, and both sides are bracing for potential legal challenges to vote tallies. The Justice Departments election monitoring effort, a long practice under both Democratic and Republican administrations, is meant to ensure that federal voting rights are being followed.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-election-monitors-republican-states-b432050ce1a28e106394b6cefeb4866c
MO has now joined in the idiocy.
REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143332615
Think. Again.
(18,429 posts)gab13by13
(25,298 posts)Metaphorical
(2,332 posts)I still think that the feds should send in guys in black suits and sunglasses in black helicopters to the election centers in FL, TX and MO. If they want a confrontation, we'll give it to them.
wolfie001
(3,755 posts)He's a foul, stupid, short-sited, spineless creature.
Ollie Garkie
(207 posts)What kind of fascist shit Abbott and Desatan are pulling. They could swing the election back to red if they're going blue, they must be stopped by armed force if necessary!
Clouds Passing
(2,434 posts)bluestarone
(18,307 posts)CALL the feds in?
BumRushDaShow
(143,112 posts)From here - https://www.justice.gov/crt/statutes-enforced-voting-section and here - https://www.justice.gov/crt/frequently-asked-questions-2#faq2
We encourage anyone with a complaint about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws to contact the Civil Rights Division. There are no special forms to use or procedures to follow--just call us toll-free at (800) 253-3931, or write to us.
Send mail
Voting Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
4 Constitution Square
Room 8.923
150 M Street, NE
Washington, DC 20530
Call
You may call the Voting Section at (202) 307-2767 or toll-free at (800) 253-3931.
Fax
You can send a fax to the Voting Section at (202) 307-3961.
Submit a report
You can submit a report to the Voting Section at https://civilrights.justice.gov
You can email the Voting Section at Voting.Section@usdoj.gov
bluestarone
(18,307 posts)Was just hoping the Feds that are not allowed in, could be CALLED in by monitors or voters.
BumRushDaShow
(143,112 posts)and communications, so the elections officials in every state should be aware.
TheRickles
(2,436 posts)BumRushDaShow
(143,112 posts)Some like to repeat history.
Ramsey Barner
(669 posts)[DOJ formerly sent]
election monitors across the country to observe procedures in polling sites and at places where ballots are counted. That was a power granted to the federal government under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices and sought to equalize voting access. After the U.S. Supreme Court gutted parts of the law years ago, the agency now must get permission from state and local jurisdictions to be present or get a court order.
https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texas-justice-department-election-monitors/
On Edit:
From DOJ:
The Voting Rights Act provides for the appointment of federal observers by order of a federal court pursuant to Section 3(a), or, (prior to the Shelby County decision) with regard to political subdivisions covered under Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, upon the certification by the Attorney General, pursuant to Section 8 (previously Section 6).
https://www.justice.gov/crt/about-federal-observers-and-election-monitoring
TheRickles
(2,436 posts)BumRushDaShow
(143,112 posts)In light of the Shelby County decision, the Division is not relying on the Section 4(b) coverage formula as a way to identify jurisdictions for election monitoring. The Division can continue to engage OPM federal observers where there is a relevant court order. The Division also will continue to conduct its own election monitoring around the country, using its own staff, without relying on the Section 4(b) coverage formula. Please see the fact sheet here.
After the Shelby County decision, the Division can continue to engage OPM federal observers where there is a court order under Section 3(a) of the Voting Rights Act authorizing their presence. The monitoring of elections by federal observers is an important aspect of the Division's voting rights enforcement efforts. The success of the federal observer program is made possible by the long-term commitment of OPM to recruit, train, and supervise these federal observers, who serve as neutral and impartial observers of election-day procedures, and by cooperation and coordination with state and local election officials.
The Division also monitors elections in the field for compliance with the federal voting rights laws in jurisdictions not currently eligible for assignment of federal observers. Under these circumstances, one or more attorneys and staff members from the Division may be assigned to monitor the election in the field on election day and maintain contact with state and local officials.
Link to FACT SHEET (PDF) - https://www.justice.gov/media/848001/dl?inline
TomSlick
(11,943 posts)Nothing like the threat of arrest to make wanna be fascists back the hell down.
Eliot Rosewater
(32,537 posts)Jit423
(340 posts)Can the President use his Constitutional obligation to uphold the Constitution and protect us from all enemies including those inside the country.
The propensity of the danger was already acted out on J6. With that in mind, can certain state precincts be labeled a clear and present danger to the safety of poll workers and the integrity of the voting?
BumRushDaShow
(143,112 posts)johnnyfins
(1,423 posts)But not letting federal observers in does not rise to the level of "Insurrection". Maybe a flood of calls to that hotline from the states involved(if there is suspicious activity) could get the court order. Just sayin...
AverageOldGuy
(2,115 posts)Republican Governor and Attorney General. Both fools.
moonshinegnomie
(2,916 posts)send the monitors in along with federal marshals
if the state tries to block them just arrest them,no questions asked.
Eliot Rosewater
(32,537 posts)of this shit yet and MAD AS HELL
Jesus christ, if someone said they wanted Mike Tyson to beat up my wife, as trump said about Kamala, I would SLAP THEM
LiberalFighter
(53,495 posts)Then they should expect Federal Monitors to be involved.
They possibly can avoid Federal Monitors when it only involves state and local elections.
Botany
(72,564 posts)End of story.
DFW
(56,700 posts)And said SWAT teams are ready to use their tools of the trade if necessary.
Anyone willing to use force to subvert our democracy is no less an enemy than a hostile foreign power raining missiles on our territory: a takeover by force that the country should resist with greater force. At SOME point, the country has to say, no, you do NOT get to make the vote to say whatever you want it to be. Not with THIS country, you dont.
Drastic? Very. It rather contrasts with my pacifist tendencies. But what Abbott and DeSantis want to do is pervert the vote, and the vote is all weve got. Its the only thing standing between being ruled by an elected government and being ruled by the Taliban. The Federal Government is our last and only line of defense. It should do some defending.
GoYouPackersGo
(140 posts)JT45242
(2,940 posts)No one is shocked by these two criminals and their AG Nazi collaborators
Orrex
(64,182 posts)Hieronymus Phact
(507 posts)WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?
Diraven
(1,067 posts)Rig the vote in every state with a Republican governor and prevent the feds from investigating.
sheshe2
(87,770 posts)C Moon
(12,585 posts)Election day is one thing, the weeks and months to follow are going to be ugly.
Kablooie
(18,786 posts)The openly corrupt cheating has begun.
Mysterian
(5,194 posts)Seems like a pretty easy solution.
ShazzieB
(18,792 posts)I hope the DOJ is on top of this.
HereForTheParty
(186 posts)Isn't state law superseded by federal law?