The Department of Justice is monitoring polling sites in Maricopa, Apache, and Pima counties for Arizona’s primary election to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law, according to a July 21 announcement.
The Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. Staff are regularly deployed nationwide to monitor elections for compliance with civil rights laws.
“Transparent election processes and election monitoring are critical tools for safeguarding our elections and ensuring public trust in the integrity of our elections. We appreciate Arizona’s cooperation in these important procedural safeguards,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Dhillon also said, “The Department of Justice today continues to monitor elections consistently and in a uniform fashion nationwide, ensuring our elections are safe and secure.”
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona said, “Our democracy depends on free and fair elections. My office is pleased to be leading efforts to ensure election integrity for Arizona voters. Today’s monitoring effort is a critical piece of that.”
DOJ staff from the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section and Arizona’s U.S. Attorney’s Office are conducting monitoring activities at various poll sites after receiving credentials from local election officials. The initiative aims to promote transparency and open communication between poll observers and monitors while maintaining appropriate access for all Americans.
The Civil Rights Division enforces several statutes protecting voting rights including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Civil Rights Acts.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona serves as a component of the U.S. Department of Justice; it handles federal prosecutions across Arizona—including along its 375-mile border with Mexico—and coordinates law enforcement efforts with federal, tribal, state, and local agencies through about 180 assistant attorneys and 160 support staff members while advancing community wellness through outreach programs, according to the official website.