The U.S. Department of Justice says it is deploying about 1,000 election monitors and observers today, Nov. 3, and for the first time they will be in all 50 states. In California, the department's list names four counties: Los Angeles, Alameda, Sacramento and San Diego. Alameda is the only Bay Area county on the list.
What monitors do
DOJ's Civil Rights Division is coordinating the effort. Monitors include division staff, people from other DOJ components and U.S. Attorney's Offices, and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management. They will check compliance with federal voting laws enforced by the division, including the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the overseas and military voting law. Division staff will stay in contact with state and local election officials throughout the day.
KTVU noted that the DOJ release did not say where in Alameda County the monitors would be. "I am very proud we are deploying the largest monitoring effort in DOJ history," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in the release.
How it fits with the state's own observers
The deployment follows Monday's U.S. Supreme Court order rejecting the administration's request to make California set aside about 20,000 ballots. (See our story on that ruling.) California has also sent its own lawyers and observers. See our earlier report.
KTVU reported that disruptions at polling places should be reported first to local election officials, and threats or violence should be reported to local law enforcement right away. Voting-rights complaints can also go to DOJ's Civil Rights Division online.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.