> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.workersrights.news/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Trumps DOJ says it's sending 1,000 poll monitors. Here's what to do if anyone challenges your vote.
- URL: https://www.workersrights.news/what-to-do-if-challenged-or-intimidated-at-the-polls/
- Published: 2026-10-24T13:55:40.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T13:55:40.000Z
- Description: Intimidating voters is a federal crime worth up to five years in prison. Know the hotline, the provisional ballot rule and your rights.
- Author: WorkersRights.News Team
- Tags: Advice & Opinion, Politics

Nobody should need a field guide to vote. Yet here we are, 10 days from the Nov. 3 midterms. The Justice Department says it will send [about 1,000 election monitors](https://www.workersrights.news/naacp-sues-doj-poll-monitors-voter-intimidation/) to the polls, and the NAACP has sued to stop it. Border Patrol vehicles [parked at a Florida early voting site](https://www.workersrights.news/border-patrol-florida-early-voting-sites/) on opening day. [Armed Homeland Security agents have knocked on doors](https://www.workersrights.news/armed-hsi-agents-knock-doors-noncitizen-voters-six-states/) asking people whether they voted, until a federal judge [blocked most of those sweeps in nine states](https://www.workersrights.news/judge-blocks-dhs-voter-fraud-field-operations-nine-states/) and called the target lists "unreliable."

In Washington, D.C., three National Guard members were photographed this month beside a ballot drop box near the Foggy Bottom Metro, [one standing directly in front of the slot](https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/national-guard-ballot-drop-box-concern-dc/4165777/?ref=workersrights.news). The Guard told NBC Washington its troops are "directed not to monitor or secure polling locations." Wonderful. Someone should tell the troops.

Here's what the law says, and what to do if somebody tries to make voting feel like a border crossing.

### Scaring voters is a federal crime. Several, actually.

The Voting Rights Act says no one, "whether acting under color of law or otherwise," may intimidate, threaten or coerce anyone for voting or trying to vote ([52 U.S.C. § 10307(b)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/10307?ref=workersrights.news)). "Under color of law" is lawyer for "with a badge." The Civil Rights Act separately bans intimidating people to stop them from voting for president or Congress ([52 U.S.C. § 10101(b)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/10101?ref=workersrights.news)). And the National Voter Registration Act makes it a crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, to knowingly and willfully intimidate anyone for registering or voting in a federal election ([52 U.S.C. § 20511](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/20511?ref=workersrights.news)).

Then there's the law about soldiers. A federal officer who brings or keeps troops or armed men at a polling place faces up to five years in prison and a lifetime ban from federal office, unless the force is needed "to repel armed enemies of the United States" ([18 U.S.C. § 592](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/592?ref=workersrights.news)). A companion law makes it a crime for members of the armed forces to keep qualified voters from voting or to interfere with election officers ([18 U.S.C. § 593](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/593?ref=workersrights.news)). Last we checked, a retiree in a cardigan headed for the library annex is not an armed enemy of the United States.

### What DOJ monitors are for

The Justice Department's own page says its staff monitor elections "for compliance with the federal voting rights laws" and "maintain contact with state and local officials" ([DOJ](https://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/examine/activ%5Fexam.php?ref=workersrights.news)). The page says nothing about questioning voters, checking papers or challenging ballots. A department spokesperson has claimed monitors follow rules against interfering with voting. If one doesn't, write it down and report it.

### If someone gets in your face

**Stay calm and keep moving toward the ballot.** Intimidation only works if you go home.

**You don't owe strangers answers.** No one in the parking lot, whether a self-appointed "observer," a guy in tactical cosplay or a federal agent, gets to quiz you about your citizenship as a step in voting. In most states, a challenge to a voter's eligibility has to run through poll workers under a process set by state law.

**Ask for the poll worker in charge.** The title varies by state, but every polling place has one.

**Write it down.** Names, badge numbers, agency markings, vehicles, the time and exactly what was said. Skip photos inside the polling place unless you know your state allows them.

**Call Election Protection.** Call or text [866-OUR-VOTE](https://866ourvote.org/?ref=workersrights.news) (866-687-8683) to reach a trained volunteer. In Spanish, 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682). For Asian languages, 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683). In Arabic, 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287). Save them in your phone today.

### Don't leave without voting

If you're told you aren't on the list, or a poll worker says you aren't eligible, federal law says you can cast a provisional ballot, and the official has to tell you that ([52 U.S.C. § 21082](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/21082?ref=workersrights.news)). You also get written information on how to find out whether it counted and, if not, why. Ask for one instead of walking out. Better yet, [check your registration now](https://www.workersrights.news/check-voter-registration-before-nov-3/) and head off the "you're not on the list" routine before it starts.

If you need help voting because of a disability or because you can't read or write, federal law lets you bring someone of your choice, as long as it isn't your employer or a union officer ([52 U.S.C. § 10508](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/10508?ref=workersrights.news)). Your manager does not get to tag along and helpfully point.

And if you're in line when the polls close on Election Day, stay in line. You still get to vote ([Bipartisan Policy Center](https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/you-have-rights-when-you-go-to-vote-at-the-polls/?ref=workersrights.news); [ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/yep-if-youre-in-line-you-get-to-vote?ref=workersrights.news)). Need the hours to get there? [Your state may require your boss to give you time off](https://www.workersrights.news/time-off-to-vote-state-laws-2026/).

We condemn sending armed agents and troops anywhere near voters this fall. They are betting you'll decide voting isn't worth the hassle. Save the hotline, bring a friend, and make them lose that bet.

### Sources

- [52 U.S.C. § 10307, Prohibited acts](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/10307?ref=workersrights.news), Cornell Legal Information Institute
- [52 U.S.C. § 10101, Voting rights](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/10101?ref=workersrights.news), Cornell Legal Information Institute
- [52 U.S.C. § 20511, Criminal penalties](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/20511?ref=workersrights.news), Cornell Legal Information Institute
- [18 U.S.C. § 592, Troops at polls](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/592?ref=workersrights.news), Cornell Legal Information Institute
- [18 U.S.C. § 593, Interference by armed forces](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/593?ref=workersrights.news), Cornell Legal Information Institute
- [52 U.S.C. § 21082, Provisional voting and voting information requirements](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/21082?ref=workersrights.news), Cornell Legal Information Institute
- [52 U.S.C. § 10508, Voting assistance for blind, disabled, or illiterate persons](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/10508?ref=workersrights.news), Cornell Legal Information Institute
- [About Federal Observers and Election Monitoring](https://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/examine/activ%5Fexam.php?ref=workersrights.news), U.S. Department of Justice
- [Election Protection hotline](https://866ourvote.org/?ref=workersrights.news), 866ourvote.org
- [Image of armed National Guard surrounding ballot drop box triggers concern in DC](https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/national-guard-ballot-drop-box-concern-dc/4165777/?ref=workersrights.news), NBC Washington
- [National Guard says it is 'actively addressing' incident of troops near DC ballot drop box](https://taskandpurpose.com/news/national-guard-washington-dc-ballot-drop-box/?ref=workersrights.news), Task & Purpose
- [You have rights when you go to vote at the polls](https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/you-have-rights-when-you-go-to-vote-at-the-polls/?ref=workersrights.news), Bipartisan Policy Center
- [Yep, if you're in line, you get to vote](https://www.propublica.org/article/yep-if-youre-in-line-you-get-to-vote?ref=workersrights.news), ProPublica
- [NAACP sues to stop DOJ's 1,000 poll monitors](https://www.workersrights.news/naacp-sues-doj-poll-monitors-voter-intimidation/), WorkersRights.News
- [Election supervisors were promised no immigration agents at polls. Then CBP agents arrived.](https://www.workersrights.news/border-patrol-florida-early-voting-sites/), WorkersRights.News
- [Armed federal agents are knocking on doors in six states, asking residents if they voted](https://www.workersrights.news/armed-hsi-agents-knock-doors-noncitizen-voters-six-states/), WorkersRights.News
- [A judge blocked DHS voter sweeps in nine states](https://www.workersrights.news/judge-blocks-dhs-voter-fraud-field-operations-nine-states/), WorkersRights.News
- [Check your voter registration before Nov. 3](https://www.workersrights.news/check-voter-registration-before-nov-3/), WorkersRights.News
- [No federal law gives you time off to vote, but your state might](https://www.workersrights.news/time-off-to-vote-state-laws-2026/), WorkersRights.News