Senators Kirt, Boren provide information to Oklahoma voters on presence of DOJ monitors during upcoming General Election

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reports that the U.S. Department of Justice will send monitors to three Oklahoma counties, Oklahoma, Tulsa, and Muscogee, for the Nov. 3 General Election have raised concerns. In response to questions from citizens, Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, are working to inform voters about what the monitors can and cannot do.

“People should feel safe to vote,” Kirt said. “We want to make sure Oklahomans have the information they need to vote their conscience without fear of intimidation.”

Kirt and Boren discussed the situation with Oklahoma Election Board Sec. Paul Ziriax to confirm Oklahoma’s law and election rules related to Department of Justice (DOJ) monitors. Oklahoma voters should know that the following laws, which govern all people at polling sites, govern monitors as well:

• Monitors are not allowed inside polling sites.
• Monitors have to be at least 300 feet away from the polling location to interview voters, and any interview is entirely voluntary. Voters can choose whether or not to participate.
• Monitors cannot be armed.

In addition, election workers have been trained on these laws and procedures and what to do if they are being broken. Poll workers who see any legal violations by the monitors or other people have been directed to call the county election board or the sheriff if warranted.  Kirt said it was her understanding that the DOJ will not disclose exactly which sites the monitors will go to or at what times. Further, the monitors will not have uniforms or visible badges because they likely will be part of the Department of Justice Civil Division, which are not criminal investigators.

Though the circumstances of this election and this use of DOJ monitoring has caused concerns among Oklahoma voters, it is important to note that this type of oversight from the DOJ has been exercised in previous elections to monitor the implementation of federal laws governing elections, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and laws governing the casting of provisional ballots.

“Oklahomans know how to protect the elections in our state,” Boren said. “People need to know what to do if concerns are raised.”

If voters have concerns while they are at their polling site, they should ask for the precinct inspector, who is the lead poll worker at each polling site. The precinct inspector can call the county election board and elevate the voter’s concerns. If voters are far from any poll workers, any voter can call their local county election board directly.

The ACLU is also providing a voter protection hotline during early voting and on election day at (405) 849-5220. Callers can get help from attorneys if they have questions about monitors at their polling site or any other concerns about the conduct of the election. 
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For more information, contact:  Sen. Julia Kirt at 405-521-5636 or Julia.Kirt@oksenate.gov