New Haven, Conn. – 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 places on Election Day, Nov. 3. The decision follows a letter from the city’s Democratic and Republican Registrars of Voters, who warned that federal monitors could make polling sites feel less accessible.
Local officials push back against federal presence
Registrars Shannel Evans (Democrat) and Lisa Milone (Republican) wrote to the DOJ, acknowledging the agency’s long history of election monitoring but expressing concern that the current national climate – marked by rhetoric that seeks to cast doubt on election integrity – could intimidate voters. “We believe the presence of election monitors at polling places in New Haven could make our polling places feel less accessible to all,” the letter said.
Mayor Elicker echoed those concerns, adding, “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.”
DOJ’s plan and the Trump administration’s broader effort
According to a senior trial attorney with the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, James Thomas Tucker, the agency intends to send two teams of two monitors each to New Haven on Election Day. Tucker emphasized that the monitors would “only observe” and would not “intrude or interfere in any way in the voting process.” He said the monitors are tasked with ensuring compliance with federal voting‑rights statutes, including the Voting Rights Act and the Help America Vote Act.
The Trump administration has announced a nationwide rollout of election monitors in selected jurisdictions, a move intended to safeguard the integrity of the 2026 midterm elections. State officials in Connecticut have confirmed that New Haven is the only municipality in the state slated for DOJ monitoring.
Local response and voter turnout
City spokesperson Lenny Speiller noted that the DOJ has not disclosed which specific polling sites it plans to observe. He also reported that more than 3,500 residents have already cast ballots during the early voting period, indicating strong community engagement.
Mayor Elicker’s office will work with the city’s registrars to remind poll site moderators of Connecticut’s clear laws governing poll watcher activity. The city remains confident that its own safeguards will ensure a free, fair, and accessible election without federal interference.
What this means for voters
Residents of New Haven can expect the same polling locations and procedures that have been in place throughout the early voting period. The city’s decision to decline DOJ monitors aligns with the Trump administration’s broader message that local officials, not federal agents, are best positioned to protect voter access and confidence.
Voters are encouraged to continue using early voting options and to review polling place information provided by the city’s election office. As the November 3 election approaches, New Haven officials remain committed to upholding the constitutional right to vote without unnecessary federal oversight.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
