U.S. Department of Justice to monitor voting in Portage County

The U.S. Department of Justice will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Portage County during early voting and on Election Day, according to a news release.

The move follows complaints of voter intimidation related to a Facebook post made by Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski in September. The now-deleted post from her public Facebook page calls on residents to take note of the addresses of people supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, so they can send immigrants to their homes. Zuchowski also called immigrants locusts in his post. Portage County is 86 percent white, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and the Portage County Board of Elections have both received complaints of voter intimidation related to the post.

The DOJ enforces federal election laws and regularly deploys personnel to monitor elections in communities across the country, according to a press release.

“Voters in Portage County have raised concerns about intimidation resulting from surveillance and collection of personal voter information, as well as threats regarding the election process,” the release said.

However, in a statement from the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, a spokesperson said DOJ monitoring of polls is not unique to Portage County and is normal DOJ practice.

Attempted or actual intimidation, threats, or coercion related to voting are prohibited by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“The Portage County Board of Elections is committed to free, fair and transparent elections,” a statement from the board said. “We invite the Department of Justice to observe our electoral process.”

Zuchowski defended his initial post in September, writing that he had a right to free speech. However, residents argued that his Facebook comments infringe on their freedom of speech to place political signs in their yards or otherwise display their political affiliation.

“I am grateful that the Department of Justice is standing by and watching, especially since the state officials investigating this matter have done nothing and have not responded,” the president said. of the Portage County Democratic Party, Denise Smith.

Portage County GOP Chair Amanda Suffecool also welcomed the DOJ in a statement.

“It is our understanding that no one, to date, has been charged with any criminal offense relating to voter intimidation,” she said. “The vague accusations made by people attempting to influence the election are unfortunate. As the Republican Party, we look forward to new, fair elections in Portage County.”

Zuchowski is re-elected in November. He faces Democrat Jon Barber, whose political posters were popular in the days after Zuchowski’s Facebook post, according to the Portage County Democratic Party.

The Portage County NAACP encouraged voters concerned about voter intimidation not to vote alone.