Hennepin County Attorney’s Office shares information on U.S. Department of Justice election monitor request

"What To Know" about DOJ election monitors (Full text of graphic at bottom of page)

Last week, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) requested that Hennepin County approve DOJ staff to access and monitor polling places for the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The request was made to Hennepin County.

After consultation with our office, the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, and others, Hennepin County denied the request.

DOJ has since committed to abide by the County’s decision. DOJ monitors will not be permitted inside polling places but instead will remain outside a100-foot boundary from the polling locations, in compliance with Minnesota law.

DOJ monitors are expected to be DOJ staff in plainclothes and may attempt to interview voters as they leave the polling place. Participation in these interviews is entirely voluntary.

The DOJ expressed intent to focus on Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn Center, but may monitor polling places in other cities.

“Our office is fully prepared to protect and defend your right to vote,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “Any reports of threats, harassment, or intimidation directed at voters or election workers will be reviewed and, if appropriate, prosecuted.”

The Minnesota Attorney General's Office has stated plans to observe the DOJ monitoring teams.

Election monitors and other members of the public may NOT:

Interfere with a voter’s ability to enter the polling place
Direct or order Election Judges to take any action
Interfere with the operations, administration, management, or activities of a polling place.

View additional Election Day resources here.

Text from "What To Know" graphic:

Hennepin County received a request from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to send election monitors to polling places on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The DOJ was notified that their request for access for election monitors INSIDE the polling place has been declined under the typical discretion given to local election officials.

What to expect for Tuesday

The DOJ has communicated that the monitors will be DOJ staff in plainclothes.

While DOJ Monitors will not be permitted inside the polling place, they will be sending monitors who will stay outside the 100-foot boundary from the polling place, in compliance with Minn. Stat. § 204C.06

They may attempt to interview voters as they leave the polling place. These interviews are entirely voluntary.

DOJ has identified three cities they plan to focus on: Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, and Minneapolis, but may visit polling places in other cities as well.

The DOJ is expected to share the names of the staffers who will be conducting the monitoring. Their identities will be shared with city clerks.

DOJ Monitors and other members of the public must stand outside of the 100-foot boundary of the polling place. (Minn. Stat. § 204C.06).

DOJ monitors and other observers may NOT:

Interfere with a voter’s ability to enter the polling place

Direct or order Election Judges to take any action

Interfere with the operations, administration, management, or activities of a polling place.

Our commitment is to ensure that every voter is able to cast their ballot peacefully, privately and without interference on election day. We ask all to help maintain a calm and respectful polling place.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is fully prepared to protect and defend your right to vote.

Any reports of threats or harassment directed at voters or election workers will be reviewed and, if appropriate, prosecuted.

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