Wyoming governor requests investigation into activity of Justice Department monitors during primary

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Wyoming's attorney general is probing how two U.S. Department of Justice officials observed poll workers and voters during the state's Aug. 18 primary in Laramie County, a spokesperson for Republican Governor Mark Gordon disclosed on Friday. According to Gordon, the monitors' actions were "a bit aggressive" and "irregular" during an otherwise typical meeting to verify election results in this predominantly rural and Republican state.

Gordon spokesperson Amy Edmonds confirmed the investigation by Attorney General Keith Kautz, who was appointed by the governor. The monitoring occurred in southeastern Wyoming's Laramie County, which includes the state capital, Cheyenne. The DOJ officials arrived shortly after polls opened at 7 a.m. on primary day, stating they intended to speak with voters while evaluating compliance with federal civil rights and voting rights laws.

However, they were denied permission to conduct interviews in polling places. They questioned local officials about poll worker training, the acquisition of new election equipment, and the examination of tabulators, claiming it was a poorly managed exercise with disregard for Wyoming's election laws.

Wyoming law only permits election observation by certified poll watchers, monitoring registration and turnout. The monitors were sent without prior notification, and a Justice Department official in Washington stated the decision was made on short notice, with an email sent to Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee, though it may have been misaddressed.

The DOJ typically sends monitors to observe polling places or election offices, but they are not allowed to interfere with voting or election administration. The DOJ did not comment on the monitors Friday, instead referring to a primary day statement by Darin Smith, the U.S. attorney for Wyoming, who said the monitors were there to ensure transparency, ballot security, and strict adherence to federal voting rights statutes.

Edmonds highlighted that no one, including Gordon, is claiming the monitoring influenced the election outcome, describing it as a fact-finding mission to determine exactly what transpired.