Missouri Sues DOJ Over Poll Monitoring

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to block federal monitors from overseeing polling places in St. Louis, claiming the DOJ lacks authority to do so under state law. The DOJ plans to monitor compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and federal election laws in 87 jurisdictions across the country, including St. Louis, due to past issues with accessibility at polling places. Judge Sarah Pitlyk denied Missouri's request for a temporary restraining order against the DOJ's monitoring, stating that the anticipated harms to the state were speculative compared to the documented needs of disabled voters. Ashcroft accused the DOJ of attempting to interfere with Missouri's election process by bypassing state authority. The DOJ maintains that its role is to ensure compliance with federal laws and protect the voting rights of all citizens. The ongoing dispute reflects broader tensions between state and federal oversight of election processes.