Federal ‘election monitors’ coming to Marion County on Election Day

INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County may have federal eyes on its upcoming midterm election.

The Marion County Election Board said it received notice on Oct. 21 that the U.S. Department of Justice plans to send election monitors to the county on Election Day to observe election processes for federal law compliance.

Marion County is one of only two counties in Indiana to receive the designation — the other being Lake County.

Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell says the board was given little explanation for the decision.

“We were not informed as to who or what prompted this unique status,” said Clerk Sweeney Bell. “We were not told what criteria was used to make this determination, and we do not know why the Department of Justice chose these two specific counties in this election cycle in this particular state.”

The board has not been told exactly what the monitors will do on Election Day beyond observing the process.

The Election Board said it recently approved a new policy instructing poll workers on how to handle interactions with DOJ officials and federal agents. Poll workers have also been trained to prepare for those interactions.

“Election integrity is paramount, and it means ensuring every legally registered voter who would like to cast a ballot is able to,” Clerk Sweeney Bell said. “It also means using every legal tool at our disposal to ensure no voter is intimidated or disrupted in the voting process — by anybody– as protected by state and federal law.”

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

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