Justice Department to Monitor Voting in Portage County Amid Controversy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that it will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Portage County, Ohio, during the early voting period and on Election Day. The move follows growing concerns about voter intimidation and alleged violations of federal voting rights laws in the county.

The Justice Department regularly deploys its staff to monitor elections across the country, ensuring compliance with civil rights laws that protect citizens’ access to the ballot. Federal observers may also be deployed from the Office of Personnel Management by court order, if necessary.

Concerns raised by Portage County voters include surveillance and collection of personal voter information, as well as threats related to the election process. Such actions, if proven, would violate Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits intimidation, threats, or coercion against individuals seeking to vote or assist in voting. others to vote.

Reports of voter intimidation or violations in Portage County can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division web portal or by telephone. The Department of Justice provides additional information on federal election laws and resources on its website.

This federal oversight follows recent controversy surrounding Portage County Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski. Just days ago, Zuchowski posted a statement on social media that was widely condemned as racist and xenophobic. The sheriff’s message referred to voters who supported a particular candidate, suggesting their homes could be used to house “illegal human locusts.” The inflammatory post was shared on Zuchowski’s personal and official Sheriff’s Facebook pages, sparking widespread outrage.

Zuchowski, who is running for re-election, has faced backlash from local residents and activists who call his comments disturbing and divisive. This is not the first time the sheriff has been criticized. In July, he made headlines after publicly challenging Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes over her police de-escalation training bill.

The Sheriff’s Office has not yet released an official statement regarding the most recent controversy. As tensions rise ahead of the election, the DOJ’s decision to monitor voting in Portage County underscores the critical need for fair and legal elections in a community already strained by divisive rhetoric.