The Oregon Secretary of State's office said it was informed by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice that the department will deploy election monitors to Multnomah County on Election Day, November 3, according to a press release from Secretary of State Tobias Read dated October 23.
Source: Oregon Secretary of State press release, via EIN Presswire
"Oregon's elections are secure, accurate, and fair, and we always welcome observers to watch our American election process unfold," Read said. "But let's be clear: it is not legal for these observers or anyone else to interfere with Oregon's elections – even the Department of Justice. We are prepared. We will follow the law, and we will make sure the Department of Justice does the same."
Source: Oregon Secretary of State press release, via EIN Presswire
Under Multnomah County and other Oregon county rules, observers may not talk to election workers, interfere with conversations between workers and voters, take photos or videos of sensitive voter information, handle ballots or other official election materials, enter restricted election facilities, inspect voting equipment, or demand access to election records, the secretary of state's office said. Justice Department monitors have no special authority simply because they are department employees; they may observe, document potential violations of federal voting laws, and raise concerns with election officials.
Oregon is among at least 10 states notified that federal observers will be deployed, with the others named by officials including Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Utah and Washington, according to Focal News reporting on October 25. The department has not said how many observers will go to Multnomah County or why it was selected.
Source: Focal News, Portland
The Civil Rights Division's head, Harmeet Dhillon, said last month the department planned to send about 1,000 observers nationwide, describing it as the largest effort in the agency's history, and this year the department is also deploying criminal prosecutors as monitors, a departure from past practice, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported.