Federal election monitors expected in Twin Cities polling areas
Federal Justice Department personnel are expected to monitor voting activity in parts of the Twin Cities on Election Day, prompting Minnesota officials to take steps to ensure voters can cast their ballots without intimidation or interference.
The Justice Department requested permission to place federal personnel inside polling places in Hennepin and Ramsey counties, similar to its efforts during Minnesota's Aug. 11 primary election. Both counties denied those requests after consulting with the Minnesota secretary of state's office and other officials.
Federal monitors are expected to remain outside the 100-foot boundary around polling places, in accordance with Minnesota law.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said Monday that the county expects the Justice Department to comply with that decision. The monitors are expected to be federal employees wearing plainclothes who may approach voters as they leave polling locations.
Participation in any interviews is entirely voluntary.
"Our office is committed to ensuring free, safe, and fair elections," Moriarty said in a statement. She added that reports of potentially unlawful behavior directed at voters or election workers would be reviewed and, when appropriate, prosecuted.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said federal monitoring teams are expected in both Hennepin and Ramsey counties. He estimated that five or six teams could be assigned to Hennepin County and four or five to Ramsey County, with teams generally consisting of two people.
Simon said the monitors are expected to be Justice Department personnel or people working with department attorneys. He also emphasized that federal observers cannot interfere with election administration or disrupt voters' access to polling places.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office has said it plans to observe the federal monitoring teams.
The state's involvement follows a similar effort during the August primary, when Minnesota deployed state employees to observe federal monitors in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Officials said the effort was intended to ensure federal personnel followed Minnesota law and did not interfere with voting.
The Justice Department announced Tuesday that it plans to deploy approximately 1,000 election monitors nationwide, with monitoring activity planned in all 50 states. Its announcement identified Minneapolis, Hennepin County and Ramsey County among the Minnesota locations.
The department has said its monitoring efforts are intended to assess compliance with federal voting-rights laws.
The federal presence has raised questions about how voters should respond if approached by monitors outside polling places.
Under Minnesota law, election observers and members of the public cannot interfere with a voter's ability to enter a polling place, direct election judges to take action or disrupt the administration and operation of an election.
Voters are not required to answer questions from federal monitors. Anyone approached for an interview may decline to participate and continue on their way.
Officials emphasize that voters should be able to enter and leave polling locations without obstruction, intimidation or pressure.
Anyone who experiences interference or believes their voting rights have been violated can contact the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office at 877-600-VOTE.
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