The department told state election officials that its Civil Rights Division monitors will observe compliance with federal voting-rights laws. Ziriax said DOJ officials confirmed the monitors would follow state law, stay outside polling places and take no action that intrudes on the voting process. They may ask some voters questions after they leave, but participation would be voluntary.

The monitors will carry identification but will not outwardly identify themselves as DOJ staff or election monitors, Ziriax said. He added that he expected the monitoring to comply with state law and said he saw “no cause for alarmism.”

Andy Moore, CEO of the nonpartisan civic-engagement group Let’s Fix This, said federal election monitors have been involved in elections for decades and described their role as observing whether voting rules are being followed. Moore said monitors are generally expected to stay about 50 feet from polling places, while acknowledging uncertainty about the distance.

Moore said monitors are not permitted to enter polling places and should not be armed or engage in conduct that could intimidate voters. The Oklahoma ACLU said it is committed to protecting voters from intimidation and government interference. The organization said it would watch for concerns and had sent a letter to the State Election Board and all county election boards.

The State Election Board did not respond to a question about how it would ensure the DOJ monitors follow state law. Officials have not identified the specific polling locations where monitors will be stationed.