The U.S. Department of Justice deployed election monitors to Oklahoma, Tulsa and Muskogee counties on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as part of what the agency called its largest monitoring operation ever.

Approximately 1,000 monitors fanned out across all 50 states for the first time in the department's history, according to a DOJ statement released Tuesday. The effort is coordinated by the Civil Rights Division.

The DOJ did not explain why those three Oklahoma counties were selected.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division said in the statement that election integrity has been a top priority. She said the department was pursuing transparency for elections in an assertive and nondiscriminatory manner, calling it the largest monitoring effort in DOJ history.

Monitors include personnel from the Civil Rights Division, other DOJ components, U.S. Attorney's Offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management.

The monitors are checking for compliance with federal voting rights statutes, including the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Civil Rights Acts. The DOJ's Disability Rights Section is also enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act at polling places.

The scale marks a sharp increase. The DOJ monitored 86 jurisdictions across 27 states during the 2024 presidential election, Axios reported.

The deployment raised concerns among voting-rights groups and local election officials. Some groups, including the NAACP, said they believe the monitors could suppress turnout and disenfranchise voters, particularly from minority communities, USA Today reported.

In states with competitive Senate races, monitors were assigned to cities and counties with disproportionately high levels of Black and Hispanic residents, according to U.S. Census data cited by USA Today.

The DOJ is asking anyone with questions or complaints about election issues to call 1-800-253-3931 or email [email protected]. Complaints about violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported to local police by calling 911 first, then to the department.

The DOJ has sent election monitors since the enactment of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 across all administrations.