The U.S. Department of Justice dispatches 1,000 election monitors to 50 states, the largest scale in history

The U.S. Department of Justice said today that it is deploying 1,000 election monitors and observers to all 50 states across the United States, calling this the largest election day surveillance operation in U.S. history.

Reuters reported that the U.S. Department of Justice in a statement listed the jurisdictions in each state that will receive monitors and observers.

Justice Department officials said priority areas for dispatching personnel include areas with a history of issues with voters' voting rights and districts with tight races that could be targets for voter intimidation.

The Trump administration has taken an increasingly aggressive approach to election oversight, pressing states to provide voter registration data and arguing for tougher measures to ensure public confidence in voting. Critics see the move as an overstep of the federal government's authority.

After the federal government expanded its election oversight program, several states issued new guidance to local election officials and poll workers explaining the limited authority of Justice Department observers on Election Day.

"Election monitors will examine localities' compliance with federal voting rights regulations within the jurisdiction of the (Civil Rights Division)," the Justice Department said in a statement.

Some state and local laws allow election officials to bar Justice Department monitors from polling places. Additionally, Justice Department officials were unable to conduct investigations on site or otherwise prevent anyone from voting.

The number of monitors dispatched this time is about three times that of the last midterm election, which will be the largest supervision operation in the history of the Ministry of Justice. (Compiled by: Zhang Xiaowen) 1151104