Justice Department will send federal observers to at least 2 Colorado counties on Election Day, letters say

Robert Tann, The Denver Post on Oct 22, 2026

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DENVER — The U.S. Department of Justice plans to send federal election observers to Adams and Douglas counties on Election Day, according to letters confirmed by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office and the state clerks association.

The DOJ characterized the monitoring as routine, but it quickly drew concerns from election officials amid broader attempts by the Trump administration to interfere with mail voting. 9News first reported Adams County’s letter on Wednesday night, and Matt Crane, the executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said Thursday that Douglas County also was notified of a plan to send DOJ election monitors there.

Both counties include portions of hotly contested congressional races. Adams County Clerk Josh Zygielbaum, a Democrat, has told multiple outlets that he worried the county’s selection was politically motivated or an attempt at intimidation. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

In a Wednesday email to Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Jake T. Bachand, a regional coordinator for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, said the monitoring was a routine measure to ensure compliance with federal election laws — such as language assistance.

“The monitoring by the Civil Rights Division is done in the same way as in the past,” Bachand wrote. “Our monitors only observe and take notes. They do not intrude or interfere in any way in the voting process.”

The letter goes on to say that federal officials will introduce themselves to the polling site manager and present government IDs and dress in business-casual clothing.

Justice Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels said in an email Thursday that Adams County was chosen because it is covered under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act for language assistance — specifically Spanish — to ensure those who need help receive it. The county is home to a large Latino population.

Pels did not answer a question about whether any other Colorado counties would have Justice Department observers on Election Day. Pels said the department’s voting rights section is notifying local jurisdictions and state election officials this week about its monitoring plans.

National Public Radio reported Wednesday that the DOJ had sent similar notifications to counties in Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Washington state this week, as the department made plans to deploy 1,000 observers nationally for the election.

The secretary of state’s office earlier this month changed a rule for election observers that had exempted poll watchers from the Justice Department from needing approval from the office before they arrive to monitor. Under the new rule, which went into effect on Oct. 9, all federal observers must receive permission from the state.

Secretary of state spokesperson Jack Todd said in an email Thursday that the office was considering the Justice Department’s request in collaboration with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office but had not yet granted it.

The Justice Department under presidents from both administrations has long deployed election monitors to ensure compliance with federal laws.

But Democrats have raised concerns about federal involvement under President Donald Trump, who continues to spread baseless claims about mail-voting fraud and who tried to overturn his own defeat in the 2020 presidential election.

“President Trump sending his DOJ monitors to Adams County — home to more than 200,000 Latino residents — is nothing more than a transparent attempt to undermine confidence in our election and intimidate voters,” said Amanda Gonzalez, Jefferson County’s clerk and the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, in a statement.

Gonzalez highlighted that part of the county is in one of the most competitive congressional districts in the country. Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans is trying to fend off a challenge from Democrat Manny Rutinel in the 8th Congressional District race, which could be pivotal for determining control of Congress.

Douglas County is part of the 4th Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican, faces a well-funded challenge by Democrat Eileen Laubacher.

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