Official court filings or state government announcements

Texas and Missouri Sue to Block DOJ Election Monitors; DOJ Agrees to Stay Outside in Texas

Nov 5, 2024, 03:35 AM

The U.S. Department of Justice announced plans to deploy federal election monitors to polling sites in 86 jurisdictions across 27 states, including eight counties in Texas, to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws. However, Republican-led states such as Texas, Florida, and Missouri have pushed back against the DOJ's monitoring efforts. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the DOJ's actions a 'lawless intimidation campaign' and filed a lawsuit to block federal monitors from entering polling places. Paxton also deployed an Election Day Rapid Response Legal Team to monitor election activity and address any legal issues. Similarly, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft sued the DOJ to prevent federal officials from monitoring polling locations in St. Louis. Despite these legal challenges, federal judges have denied Missouri's request to block the DOJ from sending election monitors. In Texas, the DOJ has agreed not to enter polling stations but will observe from outside, remaining at least 100 feet away from polling locations.