DOJ agrees to keep federal election monitors out of Texas polling places, central count locations

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas refuses federal election monitors

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson says the state will not allow federal election monitors at polling locations on Election Day. Nelson says it is a violation of state law.

The United States Department of Justice will keep its federal election monitors out of Texas polling places after a lawsuit from Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Paxton's office says the DOJ agreed on Monday night that poll watchers will not enter Texas polling and central count locations.

The monitors will remain outside, at least 100 feet away from the locations.

The Justice Department routinely sends election monitors to polling locations across the country to watch for voting rights violations.

A press release from the department last week said the monitors would make sure "federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion" and other civil rights laws are followed.

Eight Texas counties were on the list this year, Atascosa, Bexar, Dallas, Frio, Harris, Hays, Palo Pinto, and Waller.

Secretary of State Jane Nelson sent a letter to the federal agency that state law does not allow federal monitors in polling sites or where ballots are counted.

Paxton filed his lawsuit against US Attorney General Merrick Garland and other officials from the Biden Administration in a federal court in Amarillo.

Paxton says the election monitors infringe on the state's authority to run elections.

"Texans run Texas elections, and we will not be bullied by the Department of Justice," said Paxton in a statement. "The DOJ knows it has no authority to monitor Texas elections and backed down when Texas stood up for the rule of law. No federal agent will be permitted to interfere with Texas’s free and fair elections."

A 2013 Supreme Court ruling requires federal election monitors to get permission from state agents or have a federal court order.

Paxton withdrew his lawsuit for a temporary restraining order following the agreement.

A recent AP/NORC poll finds one in three Americans believe local or state officials could interfere with results, something states are trying to prevent.