US DOJ sends election monitors to all 50 states, expands Alaska Senate race probe

The US Justice Department has dispatched 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states to oversee midterm voting, particularly in predominantly Democratic jurisdictions, according to a Reuters analysis. This move follows Kamala Harris's victory over Donald Trump in roughly two-thirds of these areas during the 2024 presidential election.

The majority of these jurisdictions have significant Black and Latino voter populations. The expansion of the federal monitoring program comes amid a criminal investigation into allegations surrounding the Alaska Senate race. While Democratic candidate Mary Peltola has denied any involvement, the New York Times reported that her campaign allegedly helped recruit a third candidate with the same first and last name as her Republican opponent, Dan Sullivan.

The Justice Department has notified more than 20 individuals about their involvement in the investigation, including voting rights lawyer Marc Elias. Elias criticized the administration for allegedly weaponizing the DOJ against political enemies, despite the lack of evidence of wrongdoing. The DOJ emphasizes that the expanded monitoring effort aims to ensure compliance with federal law and promote transparency in elections, stating that they are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach.