washington personnel u.s. justice department civil right division deploy poll sit 28 state monitor tuesday election five monitor 2012 election department say monday state receive justice department staff statutory authority access poll sit result 2013 supreme court decision strike part vote right act curtail department ability deploy election observers unfettered access poll 500 justice department personnel deploy tuesday compare 780 personnel department dispatch 2012 general election justice department spokesman decline say many tuesday personnel full-access observers tuesday hotly contest election include presidential race pit republican donald trump democrat hillary clinton first decades justice department send full-access observers state federal court rule authorize campaign trail trump warn election may rig call supporters keep eye vote activity possible sign fraud large cities numerous study find u.s. voter fraud exceedingly rare always personnel perform duties impartially one goal mind see every eligible voter participate elections full extent federal law provide say attorney general loretta lynch statement court grant justice department permission deploy full-access observers five state alaska california louisiana new york alabama court order alabama pertain municipal elections list state justice department deploy poll watchers year justice department staff deploy 24 state tuesday election monitor must rely local state authorities grant access poll locations case voters grind see little practical difference monitor observers say vanita gupta head department civil right division statement justice department monitor tuesday 's election 28 state