Federal election monitors are on the ground in Cook County on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as the Department of Justice (DOJ) deployed approximately 1,000 observers to all 50 states for the first time.

The DOJ called it the largest monitoring effort in the department's history. In Illinois, the department listed six jurisdictions for monitoring: Chicago, Cook County, Champaign, Sangamon, St. Clair and Madison. The DOJ did not specify which polling places within Cook County would receive monitors, leaving open whether any North Shore locations are included.

The effort is coordinated by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. Monitors include personnel from the division, other DOJ components, U.S. Attorney's Offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, according to the department's statement.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division said in a statement that election integrity has been a top priority and that the department is pursuing transparency for elections in an assertive and nondiscriminatory manner.

That is new.

The DOJ has sent election monitors since the enactment of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, but never before to all 50 states at once.

What monitors are checking

Election monitors are checking for compliance with federal voting rights statutes, according to the DOJ. Those include the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and the Civil Rights Acts.

The Civil Rights Division's Disability Rights Section is also enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure voters with disabilities have equal access. The division's Criminal Section enforces federal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.

Concerns from voting rights groups

The deployment has drawn criticism. Some voting rights groups, including the NAACP, said they believe the monitors could suppress turnout and disenfranchise voters, particularly minority voters, USA Today reported.

Some local election officials have also expressed concerns that a large wave of observers could intimidate voters, Axios reported.

Josh Zygielbaum, the Adams County clerk and recorder in Colorado, pushed back on the premise. "We've never had any complaints," he said, according to USA Today. "We've never had any charges filed."

USA Today reported that in states with competitive Senate races, monitors were assigned to cities and counties with disproportionately high Black and Hispanic populations according to U.S. Census data. Monitors were not sent exclusively to such areas. In Ohio, for example, monitors went to Medina County, which is 90% white.

The monitoring effort follows what Axios described as courts repeatedly rejecting DOJ efforts to force states to restrict voting for alleged noncitizens.

How to report problems

The DOJ said voters with questions or complaints about federal voting rights can call 1-800-253-3931 or email [email protected]. ADA-related complaints can be directed to 1-800-514-0301. The department said complaints about violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported to local police by calling 911 first, then to the DOJ.