Gov. Gavin Newsom's campaign says it will place election law attorneys and trained volunteers at county election offices to monitor the Nov. 3 vote, KCRA reports. The effort is run with the California Democratic Party.
Who and where
KCRA says the effort includes nearly 1,000 people: 134 attorneys, 800 poll observers and 54 hotline operators. They will work at county election offices covering congressional districts 6, 13, 22, 45 and 48, starting on Election Day and staying "as long as necessary."
CBS San Francisco reports that Newsom first announced the plan on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday. "A federal badge is not a license to intimidate voters or interfere with an election," he said.
Why now
The U.S. Department of Justice has said it plans its largest-ever monitoring effort, with about 1,000 monitors nationwide. KCRA says it is not clear how many are coming to California. DOJ spokesperson Kiersten Pels said the monitors will "merely observe." CBS reports the Sacramento County Registrar's Office confirmed that the DOJ told it observers will be present.
Newsom's campaign pointed to new state laws that make it a felony to illegally seize ballots, election records or voting machines during the count, or to interfere with mail ballot delivery.
Sue Blake, chair of the Sacramento County Republican Party, told CBS it means "watchers watching the watchers." Mindy Romero of the nonpartisan Center for Inclusive Democracy said she does not want the process "further politicized." KCRA notes that both parties sent monitors in California's last election and no major incidents were reported.
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.