DOJ to send election monitors to Multnomah County

Federal monitors expected Nov. 3

The U.S. Department of Justice plans to deploy election monitors to Multnomah County for the Nov. 3 midterm election, the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office announced Friday. The office said the department’s Civil Rights Division notified it Thursday afternoon.

Secretary of State Tobias Read said Justice Department employees, like community observers, are permitted to watch Oregon’s election process. They must follow state law and Multnomah County’s observer procedures.

The monitors may observe election activities, document possible violations of federal voting laws and bring concerns to election officials. Their federal employment does not give them authority to administer the election, enter restricted election facilities, inspect voting equipment, handle ballots or demand election records.

Oregon and county rules apply

Multnomah County’s rules prohibit observers from speaking with election workers, interrupting conversations between workers and voters, recording sensitive voter information, or handling ballots and other official materials.

Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott said all monitors must agree not to interfere with election work. He said the county expects federal monitors to follow the same observer procedures as any other person or group.

Read’s office said Justice Department monitoring has been used for decades to protect voters from racial discrimination and intimidation. Read also raised concerns about two department monitors at Wyoming’s Aug. 18 primary. He said they attempted to interview voters inside voting locations, obtain poll-worker training materials and examine voting equipment.

The Secretary of State’s Office said it will coordinate with county election officials as Oregon conducts its vote-by-mail election.