Justice Department sends about 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states; Santa Clara County not on its list
The department lists four California counties: Los Angeles, Alameda, Sacramento and San Diego. Voters can report problems by phone, email or online.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is sending about 1,000 election monitors and observers to watch voting on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to a department news release. It says this is the first time its monitors have covered all 50 states.
In California, the release lists Los Angeles, Alameda, Sacramento and San Diego counties. Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, is not on the list.
Monitors check whether election officials follow federal voting laws, such as the Voting Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The department's Civil Rights Division leads the effort.
I am very proud we are deploying the largest monitoring effort in DOJ history.
Voters with a federal voting-rights complaint can call 1-800-253-3931, email VEM@usdoj.gov or file at civilrights.justice.gov/report. The department says to call 911 first about threats or violence at a polling place, and to tell local election officials about other problems there.
Polls in California are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the California Secretary of State. The paper's Election Day guide has local details.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice news release, Nov. 3, 2026; California Secretary of State, Voter Bill of Rights.