AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has deployed election monitors, or poll watchers, to “major counties” to monitor Tuesday’s election activity, according to a news release from his office. 

Paxton’s office claims the Election Day Rapid Response Legal Team will be equipped to prevent issues such as ballot shortages, extended polling location closures and improper extension of voting hours.

Paxton on Monday filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice to keep federal election monitors out of polling places in Texas. The DOJ and Paxton reached an agreement.

The DOJ released a statement last week stating the monitors would be sent to eight Texas counties to ensure “federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion,” and other laws are followed. The DOJ routinely sends out monitors during elections.

Those eight counties are Atascosa, Bexar, Dallas, Frio, Harris, Hays, Palo Pinto and Waller.

While federal election monitors aren’t allowed inside, per Texas law, the DOJ says they will be within 100 feet from polling and central count locations and refrain from interfering with voters.

“There is no issue more important and more fundamental to our nation than election integrity,” Paxton said. “Our Election Day Rapid Response Legal Team will be on the frontline on November 5th. We will defend the ballot box from any bad actors seeking to unduly influence or illegally undermine Texas elections.”

Paxton also says that his office is prepared to take defensive action against activist groups who might attempt to influence the election through litigation.