The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it will be monitoring polling sites in Miami-Dade County during Florida’s primary election, deploying four Civil Rights Division attorneys to the locations.
“Election monitoring is an ongoing priority for this office,” DOJ Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon affirmed. “Nondiscriminatory monitoring ensures all elections remain free, fair, and accessible to all.”
According to the DOJ, the effort aims to promote transparency and ensure clear communication between poll observers and election monitors.
So far, the agency has deployed more than 75 monitors across five states and over 200 polling sites during the 2026 Midterm Primary season. By comparison, during the 2022 midterms, the agency sent monitors to nine states.
DOJ's Plan To Deploy Roughly 1,000 Monitors For General Election
The DOJ’s announcement comes after Assistant AG Dhillon revealed plans to send roughly 1,000 monitors to oversee the 2026 Midterm General Election in November 2026.
According to Dhillon, the effort will most likely “be a historic number for a Republican administration.”
“We just did it in the primary… This is something the DOJ does,” the Assistant Attorney General stated.
Biden Administration's Similar Effort In 2022
The DOJ’s monitoring effort is not brand new; during the 2022 Midterm Elections, the agency also sent monitors under the Biden administration.
The DeSantis administration pushed back against the initiative during that time, with Florida Department of State General Counsel Brad McVay writing to the DOJ that monitors “are not permitted” inside Florida polling sites under state law.
It appears, however, that for the 2026 midterms, the DeSantis administration is not firing back against the measure.
Congressman Brian Mast (R-Fla.) also called out the Biden Administration for allegedly attempting to intimidate voters, arguing that “Partisan federal interference in our elections must not be tolerated.”
The Veteran Congressman has also not stated anything about the DOJ’s role in this recent election.
Voting for Florida's Primary Election ends Aug. 19, 2026 at 7 p.m. EST.
