DOJ to Monitor Polls in CA, NJ Nov. 4

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Voting Section will deploy federal election monitors to polling sites in five California counties—Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Fresno and Kern—and to Passaic County, New Jersey ahead of the Nov. 4, 2025 general election to ensure transparency, ballot security and compliance with federal voting laws. The division provided an email (VEM@usdoj.gov) for monitoring requests, said it will accept public questions about voting access, and encouraged residents and jurisdictions to request observation so officials can determine whether further monitoring is warranted. The announcement comes as California voters consider Proposition 50, a partisan measure to redraw the state’s congressional map that could give Democrats up to five seats, and as New Jersey’s gubernatorial race remains tightly contested. Attorney General Pamela Bondi was quoted saying transparency at the polls is essential to faith in the electoral process and pledged DOJ resources to uphold election integrity. The Friday release did not specify why those particular locations were chosen.