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# NAACP asks judge to keep federal agents off DOJ's poll monitor teams. DOJ says it has "no problem" with that.
- URL: https://www.workersrights.news/naacp-emergency-motion-doj-no-problem-law-enforcement-poll-monitors/
- Published: 2026-11-03T05:41:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-03T05:41:35.000Z
- Description: Judge Reggie Walton heard the emergency request Monday, the eve of Election Day. No ruling has been reported yet.
- Author: WorkersRights.News Team
- Tags: Legal News, Politics

The NAACP asked a federal judge on the eve of Election Day to keep agents from federal law enforcement agencies out of the Justice Department's poll monitoring program. At a hearing Monday, a DOJ lawyer told the judge the department would have "no problem" with an order doing just that.

As of Monday night, no ruling had been reported.

### What was filed

The NAACP and three voters filed an emergency motion Sunday, Nov. 1, for a temporary restraining order in *NAACP v. Blanche*, [the lawsuit it filed Oct. 16](https://www.workersrights.news/naacp-sues-doj-poll-monitors-voter-intimidation/) in federal court in Washington, D.C., [Law&Crime reported](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/emergency-motion-asks-judge-restrain-144609861.html?ref=workersrights.news). The case is before Senior U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton.

The motion asks the court to bar the administration from assigning agents, officers or other personnel from federal law enforcement agencies to the monitoring program. As a fallback, it asks that those monitors be barred from carrying firearms or badges, using cameras, or doing law enforcement work, [Democracy Docket reported](https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/naacp-asks-court-to-block-doj-from-deploying-federal-agents-as-election-monitors/?ref=workersrights.news). The groups say the plan violates the Voting Rights Act's ban on voter intimidation, [52 U.S.C. § 10307(b)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/10307?ref=workersrights.news).

The filing calls the plan "a drastic break from institutional norms," according to Law&Crime. It says that for "the first time ever," Americans face the risk of meeting federal agents and criminal prosecutors at their polling places.

One plaintiff, Rev. Andre Miller, is a precinct worker in Maricopa County, Ariz., who said he could face criminal liability for doing his job.

### What DOJ said

In court papers, DOJ argued the intimidation ban "does not apply to the federal government." It has said monitors from the Bureau of Prisons, the DEA and the ATF won't carry guns or act as law enforcement.

At Monday's hearing, DOJ attorney Kathryn Barragan said those employees would be administrative or clerical staff. Walton said that appeared inconsistent with an earlier sworn declaration from the department, [Democracy Docket reported](https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/in-about-face-doj-says-it-has-no-problem-with-block-on-federal-agents-as-poll-monitors/?ref=workersrights.news).

Barragan said about 900 monitors will be deployed, about 300 more than in 2024, and conceded that adding law enforcement agencies "would be an expansion for the first time." Walton said he hoped monitors weren't "being sent to any particular locations because of the perceived political lean," [Law&Crime reported](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/judge-presses-doj-lawyer-tell-213326880.html?ref=workersrights.news).

Walton also said he wasn't sure the NAACP had shown the irreparable harm needed for an emergency order. "I need to make a ruling today," he said.

If you're intimidated at the polls, [here's what to do](https://www.workersrights.news/what-to-do-if-challenged-or-intimidated-at-the-polls/).

### Sources

- [Law&Crime (via Yahoo News): Emergency motion asks judge to restrain Trump DOJ's 'drastic break' from normalcy and 'halt their intimidation' of voters at polls](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/emergency-motion-asks-judge-restrain-144609861.html?ref=workersrights.news)
- [Law&Crime (via Yahoo News): Judge presses DOJ lawyer to tell him why hundreds more poll monitors are needed](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/judge-presses-doj-lawyer-tell-213326880.html?ref=workersrights.news)
- [Democracy Docket: NAACP asks court to block DOJ from deploying federal agents as election monitors](https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/naacp-asks-court-to-block-doj-from-deploying-federal-agents-as-election-monitors/?ref=workersrights.news)
- [Democracy Docket: In about-face, DOJ says it has 'no problem' with block on federal agents as poll monitors](https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/in-about-face-doj-says-it-has-no-problem-with-block-on-federal-agents-as-poll-monitors/?ref=workersrights.news)
- [Cornell Legal Information Institute: 52 U.S.C. § 10307](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/10307?ref=workersrights.news)