The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division sent notices to seven Michigan municipalities notifying them that DOJ monitors will be present at their polling places on Election Day, state officials said on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
The letters were sent to Detroit, East Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hamtramck, Lansing and Warren.
This is the first time in several elections that the DOJ monitors, composed mostly of federal attorneys and DOJ staff, will be present in Michigan.
Michiganders, in about two weeks, will vote in the midterm election, picking a new governor and a new U.S. senator.
"The law provides specific parameters that allow monitors, observers and challengers to witness elections at local polling places,” said Attorney General
Nessel.
Monitors at polling places aren't prohibited by law, just like any other member of the public who may observe an election as a poll watcher.
DOJ monitors cannot speak with voters, touch election equipment or ballots, or interfere, according to Nessel's office.
“It’s important for residents to know that DOJ monitors are a standard part of our election process, and we anticipate they will comport with state and federal law just as they did in this year’s August primary. But make no mistake, my office stands ready to hold accountable those who attempt to unlawfully interfere with or intimidate Michigan voters or election workers, regardless of who they may be,” Nessel said.
The Justice Department previously said they would send poll monitors to Detroit, Lansing and East Lansing during the Aug. 4 primary election.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Feds to send election monitors to seven Michigan cities
