Justice Department to Station Election Monitors in Seven Michigan Cities, Including Warren and Detroit

The U.S. Department of Justice plans to send election monitors to seven Michigan cities on Election Day, according to the Michigan Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Dana Nessel said the department's Civil Rights Division has notified the affected cities that monitors will be present at polling places. The cities are Detroit, Warren, Hamtramck, Flint, Grand Rapids, East Lansing and Lansing.

The attorney general's office said DOJ monitors are typically federal attorneys or other department staff. Federal monitors have been present in Michigan for the past several federal elections, including the 2024 contest, the office said.

According to the office, their role is comparable to that of any other member of the public who wishes to watch an election as a poll watcher. Monitors are barred from speaking with voters, touching election equipment or ballots, or interfering with how the election is run.

"The law provides specific parameters that allow monitors, observers and challengers to witness elections at local polling places," Nessel said in a statement. She added that it is important for residents to know DOJ monitors are "a standard part of our election process."

Nessel said she expects the monitors to act in line with state and federal law, as she said they did during this year's August primary.

Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie also issued a statement, saying Michigan has hosted federal election monitors in past elections and that clerks are well prepared for the process. He said state and local election officials have been in regular contact with the Justice Department about its plans for this election.

"As always, we will follow the law, and we expect all monitors, observers, and challengers to do the same," Edevbie said. He added that voters can cast their ballots with confidence and that the Department of State remains fully prepared to protect their right to vote.

The announcement comes as Michigan heads toward the general election, which includes a U.S. Senate race between Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed.