Federal election monitors to observe midterm polling in Manchester, Nashua

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

The monitors are expected to remain outside the taped voting area while watching proceedings.

Federal election observers are expected to be present in Manchester and Nashua during the midterm election, according to New Hampshire Secretary of State Dave Scanlan. The move is part of a larger effort by the Department of Justice, which plans to deploy 1,000 monitors nationwide.

Scanlan said New Hampshire already saw federal monitors in both cities during the primaries and that their presence did not lead to any problems. He said the observers are there to help ensure voters’ rights are protected and to check compliance with federal law.

At the local level, election officials say the appearance of monitors is not unusual. In Nashua, Ward 3 election moderator Jared Holland said the practice has been around for years and that the monitors follow standard procedure. He noted that they stayed out of the way during the primary and asked only broad questions about how the process worked.

The monitors are expected to remain outside the taped voting area while watching proceedings. They can also speak with voters so long as they do not interfere with the act of voting.

Scanlan said he does not anticipate any issues during the midterms.