The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced plans to send election monitors to Detroit, Lansing, and East Lansing for the upcoming primary election on August 4, 2026. This decision was communicated to Michigan officials through letters, including one addressed to Lansing's city clerk, Chris Swope, by Timothy Mellett, deputy chief of the DOJ's Voting Section. The letter stated that the DOJ would assess the administration of the federal primary election and would contact officials a week prior to the election to discuss monitoring details.
All three cities are known as Democratic strongholds, with Detroit being the largest city in Michigan. Lansing and East Lansing are part of the swing 7th U.S. House District, where Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett is running for re-election without a primary opponent. The DOJ's recent actions mark an escalation in scrutiny of voting processes in Michigan, which has included requests for the state's registered voter list and voting records from Wayne County.
Kiersten Pels, a spokeswoman for the DOJ, confirmed the monitoring plans, noting that similar monitors have been deployed in past elections. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel responded to the DOJ's letters, emphasizing that the courts have established that states are responsible for conducting elections, not the federal government. She expressed readiness to address any unlawful interference with election workers.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson also welcomed lawful observers to Michigan's election process but criticized the DOJ's allegations as unfounded. Former President Trump has previously claimed that widespread fraud affected the 2020 election results in Michigan, although a Republican-led state Senate committee found no evidence of such fraud.
The DOJ's letter claimed issues with the use of the statewide voter registration list and mentioned long lines at polling places during the 2024 election, which Swope refuted, stating that long lines were not a problem due to the increased use of absentee and early voting. The DOJ has requested additional information from Swope by July 22 regarding precinct lists and training materials for election officials.