The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a cautionary notice on Friday to election officials in Miami-Dade and Broward, alerting them to potential impostors pretending to be federal election monitors at early voting locations in South Florida. This warning comes just four days before the general elections scheduled for Tuesday, November 3.
This alert is particularly significant as it coincides with the final weekend of early voting, which concludes this Sunday at 7:00 p.m. across the 28 designated centers in Miami-Dade. It serves as a practical guide for Cuban-American voters, teaching them how to recognize legitimate monitors and instructing them on steps to take if they encounter attempts at intimidation.
As reported by WSVN 7News, Alina García, the Supervisor of Elections for Miami-Dade, acknowledged receipt of the federal warning. She clarified that no impostors have been identified in the county so far. "Everything is proceeding smoothly in Miami-Dade," García stated, although she added, "We received reports that, elsewhere, individuals posed as DOJ representatives, which they would never do."
Broward County received the same notification and similarly has not reported any incidents.
DOJ spokesperson Kiersten Pels emphasized, "We currently have no monitors deployed on the ground," affirming that anyone claiming to be such during early voting is not associated with their agency.
Understanding the Role of Legitimate Federal Monitors
García detailed the exact duties of legitimate DOJ monitors: they are only allowed to observe from outside the election precinct's security perimeter, cannot enter the polling place, are prohibited from requesting documents from voters or questioning them, and must carry official identification at all times.
"Their purpose is to ensure compliance with federal law, such as the use of both Spanish and English and preventing discrimination. They observe from a distance. We were informed that this is one of the counties they will visit, but it is likely that people won't even notice them," García explained.
The DOJ plans to have monitors present in Miami-Dade only on election day, Tuesday, November 3, not during the early voting period.
Context Behind the Federal Warning
The federal warning is not without precedent. Earlier in October, a man was arrested on the Kendall campus of Miami Dade College while Brazilian citizens were voting. Danilo Alves Silva, 46, had dressed in attire resembling an ICE agent's uniform — reportedly purchased from Amazon — and faced charges of voter intimidation, attempted bribery, and unlawful use of a police badge. "That individual was arrested. Impersonating a police officer is never acceptable," García reminded.
Furthermore, on October 20, Border Patrol agents appeared near early voting sites in Leon and Monroe counties, prompting formal complaints to the FBI by election supervisors in those areas.
A report from Harvard's Shorenstein Center released this Friday indicated that 32.9% of the 164 voters surveyed in Miami-Dade reported experiencing at least one election-related issue, with 15.2% mentioning intimidation or harassment—more than double the national average of 7.7%.
Steps to Take if Confronted by Intimidation
Should someone inside or near a polling station claim to be a monitor or federal agent and attempts to interfere with the voting process, voters are encouraged to report the incident to the DOJ by calling 1-800-253-3931 or the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 (also available at tips.fbi.gov). Impersonating a federal official can lead to a prison sentence of up to three years under federal law.
Early voting in Miami-Dade is accessible this Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at all 28 county centers.
Frequently Asked Questions about Election Monitoring
What actions can a legitimate federal election monitor take?
Legitimate federal election monitors can observe from outside the polling place's security area, but they cannot enter the polling location, request documents from voters, or interrogate them. They must carry official identification at all times.
How can voters report intimidation attempts?
Voters can report intimidation attempts by contacting the Department of Justice at 1-800-253-3931 or the FBI at 1-800-225-5324, or by visiting tips.fbi.gov.
What are the consequences of impersonating a federal official?
Impersonating a federal official can result in up to three years of imprisonment under federal law.