DOJ Warns South Florida of Fake Election Monitors

The Justice Department alerted election officials in South Florida to reports that people had visited early-voting locations and claimed to represent the federal agency. Officials stressed that the individuals were not affiliated with the DOJ. Local election offices in Miami-Dade and Broward said they had not received reports of such incidents in their counties.

The DOJ said its legitimate monitors would be present only on Election Day, November 3, and would observe from outside polling locations rather than enter them. Monitors will carry identification that can be shown if questions arise. The department urged officials to pass the warning to local election offices and report any claims of impersonation.

As the warning circulated, Broward County workers were delivering voting equipment and supplies to more than 300 precincts. The county elections office said technicians would install the machines and check that they work before Election Day. Voting hours are 7 in the morning until 7 in the evening; voters already in line at closing time may still vote. On Election Day, voters must go to their assigned precinct, unlike during early voting.

Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia said voting had been running smoothly and that poll workers had received training to identify impostors. She said the county had been told federal monitors would visit, with their work including observing whether Spanish and English are used and whether voters face discrimination.

South Florida has had a separate impersonation-related arrest this month. Police said Danilo Alves Silva, 46, posed as an immigration agent and accosted Brazilian voters casting ballots in their country’s election at a college campus in Kendall. Garcia said he was arrested.