Election worker Jade Martin handles mail-in-ballots at County of Riverside Registrar of Voters in Riverside on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin attends Gov. Phil Murphy's 2026 fiscal year budget address in Trenton on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025.

The Justice Department will monitor key local elections in California and New Jersey in a move that officials in both Democratic-run states are criticizing as voter suppression.

The department will monitor elections at five sites in California and one in New Jersey ahead of elections in both states on Nov. 4, the agency announced on Friday, Oct. 24. The sites in California are the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside, and Fresno, while the site being monitored in New Jersey is Passaic County.

“Transparency at the polls translates into faith in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to upholding the highest standards of election integrity,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “We will commit the resources necessary to ensure the American people get the fair, free, and transparent elections they deserve.”

It's not unusual for the Justice Department to monitor local elections but the move is drawing criticism from Democrats, who say the Trump administration is targeting elections that could turn into key wins for their party.

The department's announcement came after Republican party officials in both states asked for help monitoring the elections.

Here's what you need to know.

State officials respond to eleciton monitoring

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom was quick to respond, saying in a post on X that President Donald Trump's "intentions are clear."

"He wants to suppress the vote," Newsom posted. "And when we win, he will falsely lay claim to fraud. We will not be intimidated. California will defend free and fair elections."

Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California told the Los Angeles Times that as a former California secretary of state, he knows “California elections are safe and secure and that election irregularities remain exceedingly rare."

“Historically, we’ve counted on the U.S. Department of Justice to protect voting rights and help ensure that elections run smoothly, but under the Trump administration that’s changed,” Padilla told the Times. “Donald Trump has weaponized the DOJ to attack public confidence in our elections and take steps to block access to the ballot. Any move by DOJ observers that makes it harder for eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote would cross a dangerous line.”

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, a Democrat, said in a statement to USA TODAY that the Justice Department's monitoring of Passaic County's election is "highly inappropriate."

"Our State is committed to ensuring a free, fair, and secure election, and we will not allow anyone to interfere with or disrupt our elections," Platkin said. "DOJ has not even attempted to identify a legitimate basis for its actions. The Constitution gives states, not the federal government, the primary responsibility for running elections, and our state’s hardworking elections officials have been preparing for months to run a safe and secure election. We are committed to ensuring that every eligible voter is able to cast their ballot and make their voices heard, and we are considering all of our options to prevent any effort to intimidate voters or interfere with our elections."

More about the elections being monitored

In California on Nov. 4, voters will decide whether to approve Proposition 50, which would redraw California's congressional lines to add five Democrats to the U.S. House.

In New Jersey, voters are deciding who will be the next governor: Democrat Mikie Sherrill or Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

“The Department of Justice will do everything necessary to protect the votes of eligible American citizens, ensuring our elections are safe and secure,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement. “Transparent election processes and election monitoring are critical tools for safeguarding our elections and ensuring public trust in the integrity of our elections.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DOJ to monitor elections in California, New Jersey as state officials blast move

Reporting by Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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