By ZACH LAIRD, InDepthNH.org
Various polling places in Manchester had federal monitors from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) present to oversee the primary election and ensure transparency and compliance with federal law.
Through the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, it enforces federal voting rights laws to ensure the right to vote is protected for all eligible citizens. It regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities across the country, monitoring polls with four DOJ staff from the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Manchester and Nashua, per a press release from the DOJ.
E. Nicholl Marshall, Ward 2 moderator, said there have been no federal monitors at the polling location at Smyth Road School. He added that he feels New Hampshire remains the best state to vote in throughout the country, and that other states in the union can learn from its example.
Ward 4 Moderator Craig Donais said two federal monitors arrived at McDonough School around 8:40 a.m. and were present for about an hour. They came, sat in the observer section and asked Donais about the process for how the day would go.
Voters in Manchester took a few seconds out of their day to give their thoughts and concerns around this election and what prompted them to come out and vote.
“It went very smoothly. Candidly, they happened to be from the U.S. Department of Justice, but it was not an invasive process. It was, I guess, more understanding what we do and how we do things here in New Hampshire to observe the election process,” Donais explained.
In Ward 5, federal monitors also appeared briefly. Moderator Karen Johnson confirmed two came to the polling location at Beech Street Elementary School where they were observing and asking her questions about the election process. She said there was no pushback from the public.
Ward 7 Moderator said there were two officials from the DOJ who came for about an hour and a half as well to observe at the Cardinal Lacroix Academy Community Center, though she said it also went over smoothly without pushback from the public.
Joseph Craighead, of Manchester, said everyone needs to get out and vote and that it’s an important duty everyone should be doing.
When asked what issues were most concerning to him, he said “Just taking care of the city of Manchester. Anyone who does that is good in my book. Hopefully the people that get elected help the city.”
“I wanted to make sure my vote counted, and to make a difference in the next election (and) the next two or three years of the remainder of Trump in office. The economy is really tough, and now the taxes are very high… I just want to have some checks and balances with the Congress for the next few years, for somebody to check what’s going on with the war (in Iran) — and there’s no oversight on that one — so, we don’t know what’s going on, and with the taxes and everything. That’s what brought me here today,” Max Munyanya said.
Stefania Groenendyk, of Manchester, said she’s most concerned about the school systems and making sure the students are learning the essentials without any political influence on what they’re taught. She said it’s an issue that’s very important to her as a mother, grandmother and former teacher.
Groenendyk also noted that the topic of immigration is important to her, saying she came to this country legally and that “I don’t like the idea that illegal immigrants are coming inside the country (and) not going through the right way to get inside here.”
Sonia Fillion, another Manchester resident, said she went to vote because she wanted things to change and help bring on “the blue wave,” and said some of her biggest concerns are the economy and political division within the country.
“I just think this country is so divided, and we need to get people in there to help bring it back together. We should get out there and vote; if they’re not voting, then they can’t complain,” Fillion said.
U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan for the District of New Hampshire said in the press release, “The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire is proud to partner with the Civil Rights Division on election integrity. New Hampshire’s elections, including our critical First-in-the-Nation Primary, deserve to instill the highest possible confidence. My office will continue bringing together state and federal partners to ensure that Granite State elections are free, fair, and in accordance with all applicable laws.”