The Radical Reading Room

The Pulaski County Board of Election Commissioners will vote Thursday on whether to allow U.S. Department of Justice monitors inside polling sites during the November 3 general election. The decision follows a DOJ announcement earlier this week to deploy federal election monitors to Pulaski and Washington counties. Pulaski County Elections Coordinator Amanda Dickens expressed surprise at the selection, noting the county has conducted smooth elections with no major incidents in recent years.

Local officials, including Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., have voiced opposition, arguing that federal monitors could intimidate voters. Scott stated that the right to vote is sacred and urged the commission to reject the request, citing the county’s history of secure elections and the lack of public explanation for the selection.

In Washington County, commissioners already voted to deny monitors access, citing insufficient notice and questioning the rationale behind the selection. While federal monitors may still be present, they will remain outside polling sites, 100 feet from entrances, as per the county’s decision.

The DOJ’s plan to deploy 1,000 monitors—nearly triple the 2022 number—is being met with growing scrutiny. Democratic groups and voting rights organizations are preparing to deploy hundreds of monitors in response, emphasizing the need to protect voting access.