ST. LOUIS—Late Monday night, a federal judge rejected Missouri's challenge to an announced Department of Justice plan to have federal election monitors in St. Louis on Election Day. The ruling said the monitors would be allowed because of a previous agreement reached with the city's board of election commissioners in 2021 to allow for checks on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. That agreement was extended into 2025. Federal prosecutors said similar oversight had happened twice since 2023, including last April's municipal election. 

Unless there is a further appeal, two Justice Department officials will be on hand at a single St. Louis polling location.


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ST. LOUIS—Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft on Monday filed suit in federal court in the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis to stop the Justice Department from sending election monitors to the city of St. Louis on Tuesday.

On Friday, the DOJ announced plans to put monitors in 27 states, including Missouri to guard against potential civil rights violations. 

The move follows an attempt in 2022 to have monitors observe voting in Cole County over what our news partners at the Missouri Independent said were concerns over voter accessibility. 

Monitors were not allowed into Cole County locations in 2022.

In an interview with Spectrum News Monday morning, Ashcroft said it was time to have the matter decided in court.

“What we are specifically saying is that it is illegal for them to enter polling places and we want the federal courts to enjoin them from doing so. Last time I had to threaten to call the Sheriff's office to get them to stay out of our polling places. I'm tired of dealing with that, It's time we go to court and make sure we get a final ruling so this doesn't happen ever again.”

Monday’s filing asks for an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order or a stay to keep federal monitors out through Election day.

The Justice Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

The St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners said Monday it had not had any contact with the Justice Department.