New Haven, CT – On Friday, Mayor Justin Elicker issued a press release stating that the city will not permit Department of Justice (DOJ) election monitors to enter any polling locations on Election Day, Nov. 3. The decision follows a letter from the city’s Democratic and Republican registrars, Shannel Evans and Lisa Milone, who warned that federal monitors could make polling places feel less accessible.
Federal Oversight Intended as Observation Only
The Trump administration’s DOJ Civil Rights Division has a long‑standing practice of sending monitors to ensure compliance with federal voting‑rights statutes. Senior trial attorney James Thomas Tucker wrote to New Haven City Clerk Michael Smart on Oct. 21, confirming that two teams of two monitors each would be dispatched to the city. Tucker emphasized that the monitors “only observe” and “do not intrude or interfere in any way in the voting process.” He added that the monitors are tasked with checking compliance with statutes such as the Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
City Officials Cite State Law and Voter Access Concerns
Mayor Elicker, quoting the registrars, argued that the presence of federal monitors could intimidate voters amid a national climate of rhetoric casting doubt on election integrity. “Given President Trump’s repeated attempts to undermine and cast doubt on free and fair elections across the nation and given the politicization of the Department of Justice under the Trump Administration, we believe posting federal election monitors at polling places would be counterproductive and make our polling places feel less accessible,” Elicker said.
Connecticut General Statutes § 9‑236 defines who may be inside a polling place, and the state’s Secretary of the State, Stephanie Thomas, confirmed that DOJ monitors are not among those authorized. Thomas explained that monitors must remain outside a 75‑foot restricted area, the same rule that applies to any other member of the public.
Local Leaders Emphasize Election Security and Accessibility
Both registrars stressed that New Haven’s election officials will continue to enforce state law and provide language‑assistance guidance to poll site moderators. Over 3,500 early‑vote ballots have already been cast, and city officials are preparing to accommodate voters at City Hall and Southern Connecticut State University.
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat seeking a 19th term, also condemned the DOJ’s plan, calling it an attempt to “make voters feel watched and unwelcome.” She urged residents to vote early or at their designated polling places, assuring them that “no one can take your vote from you.”
Trump Administration’s Stance on Election Integrity
The Trump administration maintains that its deployment of DOJ monitors is a lawful effort to uphold federal voting‑rights protections, not an intrusion. By focusing on language‑assistance requirements and accessibility for voters with disabilities, the monitors aim to ensure that all eligible citizens can cast their ballots without barrier.
Secretary of State spokesperson Matthew Clyburn noted that New Haven appears to be the only Connecticut municipality slated for DOJ monitoring this cycle, underscoring the administration’s targeted approach to address specific compliance concerns where federal statutes apply.
What This Means for New Haven Voters
City officials assure residents that polling places will remain open and secure, and that the presence of federal monitors outside the polling sites will not affect the voting process. Voters are encouraged to review early‑voting locations and to plan their ballot‑casting on Tuesday, confident that state law protects their right to vote without undue federal interference.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
