DOJ Deploys Monitors to 15 Jurisdictions for 2026 Midterms

The Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Trump administration is deploying federal election monitors to 15 jurisdictions across six states during the 2026 midterm elections. The move comes as the DOJ sent letters to election officials nationwide, warning of legal consequences if noncitizens are allowed to vote. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon announced the plan, stating the effort is a continuation of longstanding federal practice used by both Republican and Democratic administrations. The Biden administration deployed monitors to nine jurisdictions in 2022 and 27 in 2024. The selected states include battlegrounds like Michigan and Arizona and Democratic strongholds such as Minnesota, Virginia, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Each state has upcoming primaries this summer, with Arizona voting on July 21, Michigan on August 4, and others following in August and September. Dhillon emphasized that some states have 'homework to do' to comply with federal election laws, offering technical and legal assistance to ensure accurate voter rolls. The DOJ's actions follow President Trump's repeated claims of voter fraud, which have been unsubstantiated. Democrats aim to gain seats in the 2026 midterms, while Republicans seek to maintain their majority. The DOJ's letters remind officials of their obligations under federal law to maintain accurate voter registration lists and encourage states to work with the department to ensure compliance.