Federal Election Monitors Deploy to Manchester and Nashua Polling Places
The U.S. Department of Justice will send federal monitors to polling locations in Manchester and Nashua on Election Day, continuing an oversight effort that began during the September state primary. Election officials in New Hampshire’s two largest cities by population received notification of the plan via email from the Justice Department, with the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office also informed.
Scope and Limits of Federal Oversight
Federal election monitors operating in New Hampshire are strictly limited in their duties. A prosecutor in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice wrote to New Hampshire Deputy Secretary of State Brendon O’Donnell that monitors only observe and take notes, and do not intrude or interfere in the voting process. The federal government stated that election monitors will wear plain clothes, will not carry firearms, and have explicit instructions not to talk with voters inside polling locations.
Under New Hampshire state law, any member of the public can observe the registration of new voters or watch the tabulation of results, provided they remain behind the guardrail cordoning off voting areas. Federal officials do not possess any special authority to cross beyond this guardrail.
Nationwide Monitoring Scale and State-Level Oversight
While both Democrat and Republican administrations have deployed observers to monitor elections in recent years, the Trump administration plans to field more than 1,000 observers nationwide. Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the Civil Rights Division, characterized this deployment as the largest monitoring effort in the history of the Justice Department. Local and state election officials across the country have received similar letters announcing the presence of monitors.
Parallel to the federal presence, New Hampshire’s Attorney General also performs election day monitoring. The state plans to deploy more than 50 state prosecutors into polling locations. In addition, both political parties and various advocacy groups train and coordinate volunteers to visit polling locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did federal monitors encounter any issues during their previous visit to New Hampshire?
During the September primary in New Hampshire, monitors visited multiple polling locations in both Manchester and Nashua with no reported issues.
What specific roles do state officials play on Election Day in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire’s Attorney General plans to send more than 50 state prosecutors into polling locations to monitor proceedings.
Are federal monitors permitted to speak with voters inside polling places?
No. Federal monitors are strictly instructed not to talk with voters inside of polling locations.
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