Texas and Missouri Sue DOJ Over Election Monitors

Federal judges in Texas and Missouri have dismissed lawsuits from both states seeking to block the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) from sending monitors to polling places on Election Day, aiming to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws. Texas Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the DOJ must clarify its role, while Missouri Judge Sarah Pitlyk deemed the alleged harms from federal monitors as speculative. Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson has instructed DOJ monitors to stay away from polling places, citing state law that excludes federal officials from being present during voting. The DOJ plans to deploy monitors in 86 jurisdictions across 27 states, marking a significant increase in monitoring activities compared to previous elections. Both Texas and Missouri argue that federal oversight infringes on their constitutional rights to conduct elections independently. The situation reflects an ongoing tension between state and federal authorities regarding election monitoring practices.