Texas has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to block federal observers from polling sites during Tuesday’s election. This measure is part of a series of legal actions filed by Republican-led states, including Florida, Missouri, and Texas, seeking to limit federal intervention in electoral processes. Meanwhile, a federal judge has allowed observation in St. Louis, dismissing a lawsuit in Missouri.
The state of Texas has taken steps to restrict election monitoring by the U.S. Department of Justice following an agreement that keeps federal observers out of polling locations. This decision comes amid a series of lawsuits filed by Republican officials aiming to limit federal involvement in state election processes.
The agreement, announced on Monday, stipulates that observers will not be permitted inside polling places, marking a significant shift in the electoral landscape. Meanwhile, a federal judge in Missouri ruled that the Department of Justice can deploy its observers in St. Louis, dismissing a similar lawsuit from state Republican officials there.
Texas’s actions are part of a broader trend among some Republican-led states aiming to block federal oversight. Florida, Missouri, and Texas have been at the forefront of this effort, although Florida and Missouri’s cases were dismissed by the courts.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed his firm stance on the matter, saying, “Texas will not be intimidated and I will make every effort to prevent weaponized federal agencies from interfering in our elections.” Under the agreement, election observers must maintain a distance of 30 meters from polling and counting centers.
