New Delhi: Amid the midterm elections in America, President Donald Trump’s administration is embroiled in controversies regarding election monitoring. The Justice Department deployed nearly 1,000 election monitors and observers to all 50 states in the run-up to Tuesday’s voting. The department has described it as the biggest surveillance operation in its history so far. However, this decision has been questioned by Democratic leaders and voter rights organizations.
According to Reuters report, monitors were sent to areas where Democratic candidate Kamala Harris defeated Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Nearly two-thirds of such areas have high populations of black and Latino voters. These also include many such states, which are considered important for determining the majority in the Senate.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon defended the move, saying the Justice Department was working to ensure election transparency in a fair manner. According to the department, observers will monitor compliance with federal voting laws. However, they will not have the right to search polling stations or stop any voter from casting his vote.
Democratic leaders expressed displeasure
Voter rights organizations and Democratic leaders have described the deployment as a move to instill fear among voters. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his state would also deploy its own observers, who will keep an eye on the activities of federal monitors. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accused the administration of trying to intimidate voters. According to him, the Trump administration is preparing to challenge him if the election results are not in its favor.
Controversy over ballot in California
This monitoring has taken place at a time when there is a legal dispute going on between the federal administration and the state government over more than 20 thousand mail-in ballots in California. The Trump administration had alleged that these ballots were issued to non-citizens. The Supreme Court had rejected the administration’s petition, although later there were changes in some decisions.
Questions on Trump’s popularity also
The president’s party has suffered losses in most midterm elections since World War II. This time Trump’s approval rating is also at a low level. War with Iran, expensive fuel and rising inflation are the major reasons for voters’ anger.
According to SSRS exit poll, almost half of the voters considered the election as an opportunity to express their anger against Trump. Nearly three-quarters were dissatisfied with the direction of the country, while 70 percent believed Congress should have more control over the president’s powers.