Texas has sued the U.S. Justice Department seeking to block federal election monitors from observing the polls in eight counties. The lawsuit comes after the DOJ announced on Nov. 1 it would send federal election monitors to 27 states, including Texas.
DOJ officials said federal poll monitors would go to eight Texas counties on Election Day and ensure the polls are compliant with federal law.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Texas announced in a press release it would sue to prevent those monitors from visiting the state.
“The Texas Secretary of State immediately notified DOJ that Texas law does not permit federal ‘monitors’ inside a polling place or central counting station,” the release stated.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit. He argued that “no federal statute authorizes the Biden-Harris administration to dispatch federal agents to ‘monitor’ state elections when they are prohibited by state laws.”
The Lone Star State and the DOJ reached an agreement on the matter. According to Paxton’s office, the DOJ agreed to reverse its position and abide by Texas state election laws.
Under the terms of the agreement, all DOJ monitors will remain outside of polling and central count locations and abide by Texas laws governing conduct within 100 feet of those locations. They must also refrain from interfering with any voters attempting to cast ballots.
Missouri filed a similar lawsuit on Monday, Nov. 4. As Straight Arrow News reported, the lawsuit was an attempt to prevent election poll workers from visiting polling sites. The DOJ said its election workers would remain outside polling places.
