Federal election monitors from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) will be stationed at polling places in Marion County — Indianapolis — and Lake County on Election Day, November 3, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported on October 22. The two counties are the only ones in Indiana chosen for monitoring, out of 92 counties in the state, and both are heavily Democratic areas.

Source: Indiana Capital Chronicle

The Marion County Election Board was notified on October 21, according to the county clerk's office, but the DOJ email did not indicate why the counties were selected. County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell said her office was not told who or what prompted what she called the counties' “unique status,” what criteria were used, or exactly what the monitors will do on Election Day beyond observing. Lake County Election Board Director Michelle Fajman said she had only “heard speculation” as to why the two counties were selected.

What the monitors will — and will not — do

The DOJ letter to Marion County, signed by Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Hwui Lee, assured officials that the monitors “only observe” and “do not intrude or interfere in any way in the voting process,” and that they will look for compliance with a range of federal voting rights laws plus the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Capital Chronicle reported. A Justice Department statement cited by QNC News said the agency would be in all 50 states conducting the routine election monitoring it has done for decades, and that monitors must meet legal and ethical requirements and must not interfere with voting. DOJ official Harmeet Dhillon said 1,000 observers would be deployed across the country, calling it the department's largest ever monitoring effort, QNC News reported.

Marion County is not going in unprepared. The election board recently approved a new policy instructing poll workers on how to handle interactions with DOJ officials and federal agents, and poll workers have been trained for those interactions. Clerk's office spokesman Dan Goldblatt told the Capital Chronicle the choice “comes off as partisan,” but that the board is “very curious to learn more,” and its attorneys are scheduled to meet DOJ representatives on October 28.

“It's no coincidence” — Carson urges early voting

“Out of 92 counties in Indiana, Trump's DOJ has chosen two counties with the largest populations of Democratic voters and Black and Hispanic voters to subject to 'election monitoring.' It's no coincidence,” said US Rep. André Carson, who represents most of Indianapolis, in a news release. Carson said it also comes just weeks before an election, and he encouraged constituents to vote early, which runs through November 2. Supporters of the monitoring programme say it provides reassurance about the integrity of the vote; Carson's concerns reflect unease among some Democrats about a federal presence at polling places in large urban counties.

Indiana is not alone. The DOJ is also sending monitors to Michigan, Colorado and Minnesota, among other states, as the administration expands a practice used by previous administrations, QNC News reported. Michigan officials issued their own public reminder this week after DOJ notices went to seven Michigan municipalities.