Department of Justice to send election monitors to Minnesota

Minnesota voters will see federal election monitors in the state Tuesday, but local polling places will not allow them inside.

The Department of Justice told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS it will send 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states for the midterm elections on Tuesday to observe and report potential violations of federal law.

Both Democratic and Republican administrations have sent Department of Justice monitors to polling places across the country since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This year, the department plans to send 1,000 monitors nationwide in its largest effort ever.

What can monitors do?

Anna Baldwin with the Campaign Legal Center said election monitors can only watch and document possible violations.

“If they see problems, they’re largely there to make notes for future enforcement. They can’t ask voters if you are an American citizen. They can&rs...