Justice Department notifies Florida counties about election monitoring plans

The Justice Department has begun notifying counties in several states, including Florida, about plans to monitor elections this November, according to reports from wysu.org and upr.org. This step is part of what the department calls its largest election monitoring effort in history, with an expected deployment of around 1,000 observers nationwide.

Florida is on a growing list of states receiving notifications, which also includes Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, and Washington. The department has a history of deploying election monitors to ensure compliance with voting laws, but this year's effort has drawn new attention due to concerns about federal involvement in elections.

The Justice Department under President Biden monitored 64 jurisdictions in 24 states during the 2022 midterm elections. However, this year’s effort is viewed differently by some local officials and experts, especially in light of ongoing false claims about the 2020 election's legitimacy made by former President Trump.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department told NPR that more details about which jurisdictions will be monitored will be provided closer to the election. Some local officials have already expressed questions about the presence of monitors in their counties.

Concerns have been raised about potential federal interference during the ballot counting process, although most states reported no issues with monitors during earlier primary elections. In Wyoming, officials noted some irregular behavior by monitors, highlighting the sensitivity around this year's monitoring efforts.