Thousands of observers from Democrats and outside watchdog groups plan to monitor polling places on Election Day to counter potential interference by President Trump and the federal government.

The Justice Department has filed lawsuits in California and Alaska related to ballot counting or certification, while officials say there are no plans to deploy immigration agents or troops to polling sites.

The Democratic National Committee has established a cybersecurity unit staffed by former CIA and FBI officials to monitor online misinformation, including AI deepfakes; mayors, attorneys general, and secretaries of state are running tabletop exercises for worst‑case scenarios involving immigration agents at polling places and ballot or equipment seizures.

On Capitol Hill, Democratic leaders have assembled a substantial legal team to defend voting processes against alleged interference.

Republican‑aligned groups, including the RNC, are mobilizing with election integrity directors in 22 states and nearly 22,000 poll workers recruited to observe and ensure rules are followed.

Some early monitoring has begun in Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio, with organizers stressing that fear can suppress participation if left unchecked.

White House and GOP responses emphasize defending election integrity, with the White House blaming radical Democrats for blocking voter ID measures and asserting that Trump has advanced free and fair elections.

State Democratic parties have trained about 10,000 volunteers to observe polling places, with Common Cause training roughly 16,000 more; the broader Election Protection coalition includes around 300 groups and tens of thousands of volunteers.

Democratic groups have formed a comprehensive protection network with organizations like Common Cause and the ACLU, plus state Democratic parties, national activist groups, and Save America, all training volunteers to observe and report concerns at polling locations.

Officials caution that the large, coordinated presence could create confusion or tensions at polling locations, even as monitors are instructed not to interfere with voting and to comply with federal law.

The effort includes tens of thousands of monitors coordinated by Democratic and nonprofit groups, and will be aided by the Justice Department’s largest‑ever election monitoring program with about 1,000 staffers.