Justice Department plans to send monitors to three Ohio counties

The U.S. Department of Justice plans to dispatch monitors to Cuyahoga, Franklin, and Medina counties in Ohio. Senate Democrats announced plans to send more than 100 congressional election observers to nine states, with Georgia, Ohio, and Michigan expected first. Ohio law provides for six types of poll observers who may watch elections but cannot interfere or be paid by any local government.¹

A researcher at the University of Akron's Ray C. Bliss Institute said pundits anticipate high numbers of observers nationwide and warned that serving in that role is less safe given polarization and routine challenges to election results.¹

What observers may and may not do

Ohio law allows poll observers to watch elections but they cannot interfere.¹ Observers may not be paid by any local government.¹