‘They are there just to observe and take notes. They cannot interfere or intrude or interject.’
BALTIMORE —
The U.S. Department of Justice plans to deploy more than double the number of election monitors nationwide — including to Maryland — on Election Day.
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The Maryland State Board of Elections received notice on Friday that DOJ observers will be stationed at some polling places in Prince George’s County.
“They have done this in the past. They are there just to observe and take notes. They cannot interfere or intrude or interject in any way in the voting process,” Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis told WBAL-TV 11 News. “We’re going to create a safe environment free from intimidation, harassment and/or threats for the voter on Election Day.”
DOJ deploying more monitors
Todd Eberly, a professor of politics and public policy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, told WBAL-TV 11 News that the number of DOJ monitors nationwide is reaching new heights.
“There are going to be more than twice as many as there were in the last midterm,” Eberly told WBAL-TV 11 News. “It’s going to be about 1,000, where it had been around 350. But these monitors, they are not supposed to be wearing identifying clothing. They are not supposed to be interacting in any way with voters inside the polling place.”
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The increase comes as President Donald Trump continues to make unsubstantiated claims of possible widespread voter fraud, alleging unauthorized voters, including noncitizens, could be participating.
“It’s a really risky thing for an individual to do, and it doesn’t make sense as to why somebody would want to do this intentionally, because it also wouldn’t really change the outcome in a meaningful way,” said Ian Anson, a professor of politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
When asked if he would respect the midterm election results, Trump responded: “If they’re honest elections.”
“Trump has a history of only believing an election is fair if he wins. So, all of these things taken together have made folks very, very nervous about what role the federal government might play in the upcoming midterm,” Eberly told WBAL-TV 11 News.
What Maryland is doing to prepare
DeMarinis emphasized that the SBE is taking proactive steps to reassure voters about the integrity of the process.
“I wanted to announce that we have received notice because of the heightened, I would say, anxiety surrounding what has been going on with this election here, and hopefully, by making this announcement, by explaining what their efforts are, that it will decrease any sort of anxiety,” DeMarinis told WBAL-TV 11 News.
“They are not supposed to be interacting in any way with voters inside the polling place.”
The SBE and Prince George’s County officials are scheduled to meet with the DOJ on Friday to discuss the monitoring efforts.
“We just want them to explain their monitoring efforts and their roles, and also what we expect them to abide by state laws,” DeMarinis told WBAL-TV 11 News.
| MORE: Maryland officials plan for federal agents at polls
Federal law prohibits armed federal law enforcement officers from being at or near polling places unless they are needed to repel foreign enemies.
DeMarinis added that state election officials have been conducting exercises to ensure there is no voter intimidation, threats or harassment on Election Day.
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