WASHINGTON, DC (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Justice Department in a Friday release lists 6 Virginia jurisdictions among 86 in 27 states that will be monitored for compliance with federal civil rights law. The DOJ has chosen Hanover, Henrico, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, as well as the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park as they say they “regularly deploy its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country”. Monitors will include personnel from the Civil Rights Division, other department divisions, U.S. Attorney’s Offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management. Throughout Election Day, division personnel will maintain contact with state and local election officials.

The release says nothing specifically about monitors entering polling places, but State Attorney General Jason Miyares has posted on social media, “I know the Biden/Harris DOJ has trouble understanding Virginia’s laws so I’ll make it clear: Virginia law requires any observer (except those from the political parties) to obtain written authorization to enter a polling site. I expect DOJ to follow the law.”

CvilleRightNow has reached out to the DOJ for more details about what the monitoring means, including specifically whether or not it means DOJ personnel entering polling areas, but there has been no response so far.