**Missouri Secretary of State Sues DOJ Over Polling Location Monitoring**

Missouri's Secretary of State, Jay Ashcroft, has initiated a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding its plan to oversee voting sites in St. Louis. Ashcroft claims this federal involvement constitutes illegal interference in the state's elections. He emphasized that the law restricts who can be present at polling sites, and the DOJ’s proposed action does not meet these criteria.

The City of St. Louis is among 86 jurisdictions nationwide that the DOJ has slated for monitoring as part of their routine operations. According to a DOJ announcement on November 1, the department routinely deploys staff to ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws during elections.

Ashcroft has voiced his support for Missouri's election officials as early voting concludes. He stated that he has faith in the state’s election authorities, who have been managing voting operations over the past several weeks and are prepared for the upcoming Election Day.

On Election Day, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to handle complaints and inquiries from the public concerning potential civil rights violations. Reports can be submitted through the department's website or by calling a toll-free number.

In 2021, the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners reached an agreement with the DOJ to enhance accessibility for voters with mobility and vision impairments after federal authorities identified issues like overly steep ramps and insufficient parking access. As part of this settlement, which remains active through next year, the board is required to cooperate with the DOJ’s monitoring efforts, providing access to polling places, including on Election Day.

This lawsuit marks the second time Ashcroft has opposed DOJ election monitoring in Missouri. In 2022, officials in Cole County similarly resisted DOJ scrutiny, with Ashcroft accusing the department of intimidating local officials.

The Associated Press notes that DOJ election monitors are lawyers, not law enforcement officers, and they typically come from the DOJ’s civil rights division or other federal agencies. These lawyers have a long history of monitoring election sites for more than 50 years to enforce federal voting laws and protect voter rights.

In recent letters, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson and Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd both expressed their respective state's opposition to DOJ monitors inside polling stations, citing state laws that do not include DOJ officials among those permitted inside. Both states plan to deploy their own monitors to ensure a fair voting process without federal intervention.

The Associated Press has contributed to this report.