Harmeet Dhillon deploys election monitors for Minnesota primaries

The Department of Justice is monitoring polling sites in Minnesota for the state's primary elections on Tuesday to ensure compliance and security.

“Minnesota is DOJ’s next stop on its nationwide effort to ensure free and fair elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The DOJ is committed to nondiscriminatory monitoring throughout the primary and general election seasons.”

U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota said of the action, “Election monitoring is critical to ensuring our elections have the trust of Minnesotans. We are proud to partner with the Civil Rights Division in this effort.”

The administration is monitoring polling stations in Hennepin and Ramsey counties with around 20 staff members from the Civil Rights Division's voting section, per the DOJ. However, the Hennepin Country Attorney General's Office has denied a request for DOJ staff to enter the polling places and said election monitors will remain outside a 100-foot boundary from the polling location.

“Our office is fully prepared to protect and defend your right to vote,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “Any reports of threats, harassment, or intimidation directed at voters or election workers will be reviewed and, if appropriate, prosecuted.”

During the primary so far, the DOJ has deployed over 50 monitors to seven counties.

According to the DOJ, the move is to promote transparency in election processes as well as an open flow of communication between poll workers and those monitoring the elections. The primary elections taking place this evening in Minnesota include Republican and Democrat primaries for the US Senate to fill Amy Klobuchar's seat as she runs for governor. There are also primaries for the gubernatorial race as well as in congressional districts across the state.

Voting is underway across the state, and polls close at 8 pm local time.