The department notified Adams County and Colorado election officials earlier this week, according to information released Oct. 22. Adams is covered by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires language assistance for Spanish-speaking voters.

The monitoring will take place as voters in the competitive 8th Congressional District choose between Republican incumbent Gabe Evans and Democratic challenger Manny Rutinel. The district includes Adams County and Republican-leaning Weld County; Weld has not received a monitoring notice and is not covered by Section 203. About 40% of the district’s residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to the figures cited by election officials. The Census Bureau estimates that about 44% of Adams County residents and 32% of Weld County residents have Hispanic or Latino roots.

Adams County Clerk Josh Zygielbaum said the county’s language-access designation explains why it was selected, but he remains concerned the visit could be politically targeted given the district’s close race. He told NPR that Spanish-speaking voters have a right to vote and said the Section 203 coverage reflects that need.

Zygielbaum said his office is coordinating with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office to ensure the monitoring follows state and federal law. He said the county’s procedures will not change and that officials remain focused on making voting accessible, secure and transparent and counting every valid ballot.

The Justice Department said its observers will watch and take notes, not interfere with voting, and will follow state and local rules. Federal election monitoring is not unprecedented: the department sent observers to 64 counties during the 2022 midterm elections. The head of its Civil Rights Division said last month that the department plans to deploy 1,000 observers around the country this year.