Yates said the department contacted his office on Oct. 20 and sought permission for monitors to enter some polling places. He said he had not yet received formal documentation identifying the locations or providing further details.

Kentucky law does not allow the monitors inside polling places, Yates said. They may observe from outside, at least 100 feet away. The volunteers are not federal officers, he said.

The Justice Department is expected to deploy 1,000 monitors nationwide, a record number, according to the information provided by Yates. He said the department also wants to send monitors to Fayette County, which includes Lexington.

Yates said residents have raised concerns about possible voter intimidation. He stressed that intimidation would not be tolerated and asked voters to report concerns to election officers or the clerk’s office at 502-574-6100.

Civilian election observers at polling places are not new, Yates said, but he described the request for consent to enter polling locations as unusual because it conflicts with state law. He said county officials were prepared to demonstrate election procedures and changes they have made.

Democratic groups and election watchdogs are also deploying tens of thousands of observers around the country, according to the information provided. With Election Day approaching, the dispute over where monitors may stand puts attention on the balance between election oversight, state rules and voters’ ability to cast ballots without intimidation.