RAVENNA, Ohio — On Tuesday, federal authorities announced that the U.S. Justice Department will deploy election monitors in Portage County, Ohio, following allegations of voter intimidation stemming from a social media post by the local sheriff. The monitoring will focus on ensuring compliance with federal voting rights laws not only during the early voting period but also on Election Day.
The Justice Department routinely sends personnel to various counties across the nation to ensure adherence to the Voting Rights Act as well as other relevant civil rights legislation linked to the electoral process. In a press release, officials noted that residents in Portage County have expressed concerns about intimidation related to surveillance and the unauthorized gathering of personal voter information, adding that there have been threats associated with the electoral process. However, further details were not provided.
Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski, a Republican seeking reelection, faced significant backlash for a controversial post he shared last month on social media. In that post, he suggested that individuals displaying Kamala Harris yard signs should have their homes documented so that immigrants could be relocated to live with them if the Democratic candidate were to win the presidency. He also made a derogatory comparison, calling undocumented immigrants “human locusts.”
The comments made on both his personal Facebook account and his campaign’s page drew sharp condemnation from some Democrats, who interpreted them as a direct threat. Supporters of the sheriff indicated that he was merely voicing a viewpoint on immigration policy and exercising his freedom of speech. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio called for Zuchowski to take down the post, warning of potential legal action while characterizing his remarks as an unconstitutional and “impermissible threat” against those who wish to express their political beliefs publicly. Zuchowski subsequently removed the concerning post.
On Tuesday, efforts were made to reach Sheriff Zuchowski for a response regarding the Justice Department’s decision to send monitors to the county.