The Department of Justice (DOJ) has deployed federal election monitors to polling sites in five California counties—Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Kern, and Fresno—ahead of the November 4 2025 election.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the deployment on October 24, describing it as an effort to uphold “the highest standards of election integrity.” According to Politico, the California state government was not notified before the announcement, and officials called the move “unprecedented.”
The monitors were requested by California Republican Party Chair Corrin Rankin, who raised concerns about voter-roll accuracy in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Rankin cited ongoing litigation between the DOJ and Orange County regarding voter-list maintenance.
In response, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the state will deploy its own observers to monitor the DOJ staff. He accused President Donald Trump of attempting to “sow doubt” about the fairness of California’s vote on Proposition 50, a Democratic-backed redistricting measure. “They’re not going to be allowed to interfere in ways that the law prohibits,” Bonta said, adding that California “cannot be naive” about the federal presence.
Governor Gavin Newsom also criticized the decision, calling it “a bridge too far” and describing the monitors as a form of voter intimidation. Bondi and Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, rejected those claims, noting that federal observers have been deployed under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
The California Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that the DOJ did not coordinate the deployment with the state. Secretary of State Shirley Weber said federal staff have the same right as any citizen to observe polling but cannot supervise or alter procedures. She told FOX26 News in Fresno, “They have a right, as any citizen, to come in and observe. They don’t have the right to change things, alter things, take over the voting place.” Weber said her office will work with law enforcement to ensure voters feel safe at polling sites.
Local officials in Fresno County said they will also deploy observers to ensure voters feel secure and confident when casting ballots.
The DOJ also sent monitors to Passaic County, New Jersey, following a request from that state’s Republican Party citing prior mail-ballot irregularities. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin called the federal presence “highly inappropriate” for a state-run election.
The DOJ said its monitors will serve strictly as observers and will not participate in vote counting or local election administration.
