Feds to monitor voting in Portage County amid fears of voter intimidation

The Justice Department announced it would monitor early voting in Portage County and Election Day voting after residents raised concerns about intimidation and threats.

“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 Department of Justice said .

The county has been under scrutiny since last month, when its sheriff, Bruce Zuchowski, suggested residents take note of the addresses of Kamala Harris supporters so those individuals could welcome immigrants, whom he called “human locusts.”

“Human Locust”: Portage Sheriff Posts Controversial Message on Facebook

RELATED: Portage Sheriff Posts Controversial Message on Facebook

On September 13, Zuchowski posted a message on his personal and professional Facebook pages.

“When people ask me…What will happen if the Flip-Flopping and Laughing Hyena wins?? I say…write down all the addresses of the people who had his signs in their yard!” he wrote.

Zuchowski, a Republican running for re-election, followed up her viral post with “Sooo…when the illegal human ‘Locust’ (whom she supports!) need places to live…We’ll already have the addresses of their new families. …who supported their arrival!

Democratic voters in the county told News 5 they felt uncomfortable putting up signs in their yards because they thought they would be targeted.

A week later, the Portage County Board of Elections voted to remove the Sheriff’s Office from providing election security.

Portage County Board of Elections to Replace Deputies to Ensure Election Security

RELATED: Portage County Board of Elections to Replace Deputies to Ensure Election Security

The Justice Department said anyone who believes their civil rights have been violated or wishes to report voter intimidation can do so by CLICKING HERE.