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UpdatePennsylvaniaWednesday, October 28, 2026

DOJ to send election monitors to four Pennsylvania counties

Reporting by
WGAL (Lancaster/Harrisburg/York NBC affiliate)
“DOJ election monitoring plans exclude Susquehanna Valley counties”, Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Read the full story
What happened

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division plans to send election monitors to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Luzerne, and Lehigh counties in Pennsylvania on Election Day. The DOJ told Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt in a letter that monitors will only observe and take notes without interfering in voting. Secretary Schmidt said monitors are not entitled to greater polling place access than any member of the public.1

Lancaster County Commissioner Ray D'Agostino noted election monitoring has occurred for decades and is similar to poll watching.1

Key dates in Pennsylvania

Election Day in 6 days
  1. Mon, Oct 19 · passed
    Registration deadline
  2. Tue, Oct 27 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
  3. Tue, Nov 3 · 6 days
    Election Day; Mail ballots must arrive
  4. Mon, Nov 23 · 26 days
    County/Local certification

Every date in Pennsylvania, and who certifies the election

More on this story
Pennsylvania · Oct 25
DOJ to send election monitors to four Pennsylvania counties
Reporting by WHP Harrisburg
The answers behind this
Who runs elections, and who can't interfereVoting in Pennsylvania, 2026Who certifies the election in Pennsylvania, and by when?How are votes counted and certified in Pennsylvania?

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Sources

  1. WGAL (Lancaster/Harrisburg/York NBC affiliate), https://wgal.com/article/doj-send-election-monitors-four-pennsylvania-counties/74265329 · Wednesday, October 28, 2026

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