Fake DOJ monitors warned at Florida early voting sites

Voters in South Florida are casting ballots before the final day of the general election while federal authorities alert local boards to a specific type of impostor. The U.S. Department of Justice issued a warning to state and local election officials about individuals claiming to be federal monitors at early voting locations.

The department notified the Broward Supervisor of Elections that federal staff have received reports of these incidents in southern Florida. Officials emphasized that the people currently appearing at early voting sites are not affiliated with the DOJ. "Such individuals are not affiliated with the DOJ," the officials stated in the warning.

The warning clarifies the role and timing of legitimate federal observation. The DOJ told election officials that official monitors will only observe poll locations on Election Day, which falls on Nov. 3. These observers will not enter the interior of the polling place. Instead, they will position themselves outside the designated buffer zone to watch the process from a distance.

To verify their status, legitimate monitors will carry identification. While they may not be wearing visible badges, they will present their ID if questions arise regarding their presence or duties. The DOJ instructed state officials to share these details with local boards and to report any sightings of fake monitors to federal authorities.

Election officials in Miami-Dade and Broward counties have not yet received reports of this activity in their respective jurisdictions. They are monitoring the situation as early voting continues ahead of the general election.