Colorado clerk says DOJ monitors are prosecutors; state sets limits, DOJ stays outside

The Justice Department plans to send about 1,000 of its personnel to polling places in every state on Tuesday. Local election officials say they were given little explanation, and some say the plan feels aimed at voters rather than at protecting them ¹.

In Adams County, Colorado, near Denver, Clerk and Recorder Zygielbaum says he was told his monitors are criminal prosecutors. That is a change. In the past the department mostly sent civil rights experts ¹.

'A reason for the DOJ to come in'

Zygielbaum, a Democrat and retired Marine, runs elections for about 554,000 residents. He said the county has never faced complaints, charges or an investigation ¹.

It's almost as if they're coming here to scrutinize the voter.

He also said there is "some concern there that they're looking to create some sort of criminal case against my office or me" ¹. Justice Department spokeswoman Kiersten Pels said monitors will watch, document and report on compliance with federal voting law. She said they are not authorized to intervene ¹.

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Pels said that if monitors find evidence of noncitizens voting, "we will use it." She added that monitors will not question voters about citizenship at the polls ¹. Federal officials say the monitors will help ensure only citizens vote ¹.

Colorado sets conditions; DOJ stays outside

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold released conditions this week for any monitors entering voting centers. They had to stay in a spot she chose and be accompanied by observers her office chose. The Justice Department declined, according to Denver7 ².

In a letter quoted by Griswold, the department said its monitors "will remain outside of polling places and not come within 100 feet of the building" ². Denver7 said it had not received a DOJ response to its request for comment ².

The Constitution largely leaves election administration to the states. Federal observers generally may enter polling or counting sites only with state and local permission ¹.

Not only Democrats object

Laramie County, Wyoming, Clerk Debra Lee, a Republican, said federal observers agreed to wear county ID badges and stay 100 feet from the polls if they interview voters ¹. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, called the DOJ's August primary presence "irregular" and "a bit aggressive" ¹.

The NAACP has sued to stop the program. It says the use of criminal prosecutors and the scale of the deployment could intimidate voters ¹. In 2022 the department sent monitors to 64 jurisdictions in 24 states ¹.

President Donald Trump has claimed for years, without evidence, that noncitizen voting is "rampant." On Oct. 26 he promised $1 million rewards for information leading to arrests and convictions in voter fraud cases. On Oct. 27, asked if he would respect the results, he said he would if the elections were honest ¹.

What happens next: Pels said the department would release its county list early next week ¹. That matters because voters and clerks still don't know exactly where the monitors will be. The pattern is that officials of both parties are insisting that states, not Washington, run the vote.

The Record

1. Aug 1, 2026DOJ observers appeared in Laramie County, Wyoming, during the August primary; Gov. Mark Gordon called it 'irregular' ¹.
2. Oct 26, 2026Trump promised $1 million rewards for information leading to voter fraud arrests and convictions ¹.
3. Oct 29, 2026Colorado released conditions for DOJ monitors entering voting centers; DOJ declined and said monitors would stay outside ².

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<h2>Colorado clerk says DOJ monitors are prosecutors; state sets limits, DOJ stays outside</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/colorado-clerk-says-doj-monitors-are-prosecutors-state-sets-limits-doj-stays-outside">The GOP Files</a> on Saturday, October 31, 2026.</em></p> <p>The Justice Department plans to send about 1,000 of its personnel to polling places in every state on Tuesday. Local election officials say they were given little explanation, and some say the plan feels aimed at voters rather than at protecting them .</p> <p>In Adams County, Colorado, near Denver, Clerk and Recorder Zygielbaum says he was told his monitors are criminal prosecutors. That is a change. In the past the department mostly sent civil rights experts .</p> <h2>&#39;A reason for the DOJ to come in&#39;</h2> <p>Zygielbaum, a Democrat and retired Marine, runs elections for about 554,000 residents. He said the county has never faced complaints, charges or an investigation .</p> <blockquote><p>It&#39;s almost as if they&#39;re coming here to scrutinize the voter.</p><p>&mdash; Zygielbaum, Adams County clerk and recorder, Colorado, Democrat</p></blockquote> <p>He also said there is &quot;some concern there that they&#39;re looking to create some sort of criminal case against my office or me&quot; . Justice Department spokeswoman Kiersten Pels said monitors will watch, document and report on compliance with federal voting law. She said they are not authorized to intervene .</p> <p>Pels said that if monitors find evidence of noncitizens voting, &quot;we will use it.&quot; She added that monitors will not question voters about citizenship at the polls . Federal officials say the monitors will help ensure only citizens vote .</p> <h2>Colorado sets conditions; DOJ stays outside</h2> <p>Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold released conditions this week for any monitors entering voting centers. They had to stay in a spot she chose and be accompanied by observers her office chose. The Justice Department declined, according to Denver7 .</p> <p>In a letter quoted by Griswold, the department said its monitors &quot;will remain outside of polling places and not come within 100 feet of the building&quot; . Denver7 said it had not received a DOJ response to its request for comment .</p> <p>The Constitution largely leaves election administration to the states. Federal observers generally may enter polling or counting sites only with state and local permission .</p> <h2>Not only Democrats object</h2> <p>Laramie County, Wyoming, Clerk Debra Lee, a Republican, said federal observers agreed to wear county ID badges and stay 100 feet from the polls if they interview voters . Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, called the DOJ&#39;s August primary presence &quot;irregular&quot; and &quot;a bit aggressive&quot; .</p> <p>The NAACP has sued to stop the program. It says the use of criminal prosecutors and the scale of the deployment could intimidate voters . In 2022 the department sent monitors to 64 jurisdictions in 24 states .</p> <p>President Donald Trump has claimed for years, without evidence, that noncitizen voting is &quot;rampant.&quot; On Oct. 26 he promised $1 million rewards for information leading to arrests and convictions in voter fraud cases. On Oct. 27, asked if he would respect the results, he said he would if the elections were honest .</p> <p>What happens next: Pels said the department would release its county list early next week . That matters because voters and clerks still don&#39;t know exactly where the monitors will be. The pattern is that officials of both parties are insisting that states, not Washington, run the vote.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/colorado-clerk-says-doj-monitors-are-prosecutors-state-sets-limits-doj-stays-outside">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/colorado-clerk-says-doj-monitors-are-prosecutors-state-sets-limits-doj-stays-outside.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. USA Today, “Local officials question DOJ election monitoring plan” (2026-10-29). usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/10/29/doj-el
2. Denver7, “DOJ election monitors to stay outside voting centers in Adams County on Tuesday” (2026-10-30). denver7.com/news/politics/doj-election-monitors-to-stay-outs

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