Justice Department to Send Election Monitors to Two Arkansas Counties
The U.S. Department of Justice will send election monitors to Washington and Pulaski counties in Arkansas on Election Day. The Washington County Election Commission voted to deny federal monitors access to polling places, citing a lack of timely notification, while…
Little Rock Pine Bluff, AR, October 26, 2026 —
The U.S. Department of Justice plans to send election monitors to Washington and Pulaski counties in Arkansas on Election Day as part of a broader deployment covering all 50 states.
The Washington County Election Commission voted to deny federal monitors access to polling places, citing a lack of timely notification. The trend summary does not specify when the commission took the vote or provide details about the notification it said was lacking.
In Pulaski County, the election commission was scheduled to consider whether to deny monitors access. No outcome of that consideration was provided, so it is unclear whether the commission ultimately took a position.
The Justice Department confirmed it is sending monitors nationwide. The summary does not identify the other locations where monitors will be deployed, explain the criteria used to select locations, or describe the monitors’ specific duties.
Some local officials and candidates have raised concerns about how locations were selected and the potential for monitors to intimidate voters. The summary does not name those officials or candidates or provide specific statements from them. It also does not indicate that intimidation has occurred.
The information provided leaves several details unresolved, including the timing of the federal notification to Washington County, the Pulaski commission’s decision, and how the Justice Department will address the concerns raised. The stated plans are for Election Day, but no specific date or further update was included.
Story summarized from the original created by Tess Vrbin on arkansasadvocate.com, see more information here.
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