Justice Department to Monitor Polls in California and New Jersey

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on October 24, 2025, that it will deploy federal observers to polling locations in six jurisdictions across California and New Jersey ahead of the November 4 general election.
The move targets five California counties — Kern, Riverside, Fresno, Orange and Los Angeles — and Passaic County in New Jersey.
According to the DOJ’s press release, the monitors are to ensure transparency, secure ballots and enforce compliance with federal voting rights laws.

Background and context
The monitoring is officially described as a routine enforcement of federal statutes such as the Voting Rights Act and others overseen by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.

However, the timing and location of the announcement have drawn scrutiny. Both California and New Jersey are holding high-stakes races and ballot measures, and Republican state committees in both states had requested federal oversight.

In California, the observers’ deployment coincides with early voting for Proposition 50, a state initiative backed by Gavin Newsom, which would redraw the state’s congressional districts potentially creating up to five additional Democratic seats in the U.S. House.

In New Jersey, the focal jurisdiction — Passaic County — lies at the heart of the governor’s race and has been highlighted by Republicans for alleged past voting irregularities tied to mail-in ballots.

Reactions
Democratic officials in both states sharply criticised the decision. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom accused the DOJ of deploying federal resources to suppress votes and intimidate voters.

In New Jersey, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin called the intervention “highly inappropriate,” stressing that state elections are primarily run by state governments.

From the Republican side, the state party in California cited reports of irregularities in the named counties and requested federal observers.

Congressional-map politics, mail-in ballot concerns and the legacy of the 2020 election cast a long shadow over the announcement, amplifying Democrats’ worries that the move is part of a broader framework to tilt elections in favor of Republicans.

What happens next
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division will oversee the monitoring effort in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ offices in the targeted jurisdictions. Observers will be deployed through Election Day and will engage with public complaints about potential federal voting-rights violations.
Department of Justice
Meanwhile, the California and New Jersey election officials will proceed with early voting and carry steps in export measures such as Proposition 50 and the governor’s race.