The U.S. Justice Dept. will spend 500 personnel to monitor elections in 28 states Tuesday, including Florida.

Join us for exclusive coverage of the general election from now till polls close on Tuesday, Nov. 8 and beyond. Here's your guide to our special coverage:

The Civil Rights Division regularly monitors elections to make sure federal voting rights laws are being followed.

Among the counties the Civil Rights Division will monitor in Florida:

  • Hillsborough County
  • Lee County
  • Miami-Dade County
  • Orange County
  • Palm Beach County

The Civil Rights Division will also staff a hotline to receive complaints about federal voting rights laws. That number is 1-800-253-3931. Voters can also report complaints using a form on the agency's website.

In addition, both political parties will be mobilizing thousands of volunteers poll watchers to precincts across the country. The Trump campaign has urged its supporters to monitor minority voting places in particular for evidence of voter fraud.

Poll watchers are allowed in Florida but there are rules regarding what they can and cannot do. The Broward County Supervisor of Elections office posted Frequently Asked Questions regarding poll watchers on its website.The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections has additional information on its website. All the information is based on the Florida Statutes: Section 101.131.

Here are the basics:

What is a poll watcher?

A person may be asked by a candidate or political party to go to a polling place and observe. We call this person a poll watcher. The poll watcher watches to see if any violations of the election laws occur. If such a violation occurs, the poll watcher is to inform the election board of the violation. The election board consists of the poll workers.

Who cannot be a poll watcher?

A candidate, sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer or any other law enforcement officer are not allowed to be poll watchers.

How many poll watchers are allowed at a polling place?

Each political party and each candidate is allowed to have one watcher at each polling place at any one time.

Does the poll watcher need anything?

Poll watchers are responsible for supplying any necessities or materials needed while at the polls, i.e. chairs, tables, writing materials, etc. They cannot use the poll workers' supplies.

Poll watchers must also wear an ID badge while in the polling room.

What can't poll watchers do?

The poll watcher should not interfere with or impede the conduct of any election. He/she should come no closer to the official table or the voting booths than is reasonably necessary. Unless there is an observation of questionable nature, the poll watcher is not permitted to speak to the election board or voter.

Poll watchers also cannot review the precinct registers while there are voters in line.

Poll watchers cannot touch any voting equipment or materials.

Poll watchers may have a mobile device, but cannot use them to take pictures or record conversations, or used in any other manner that may cause a disruption in the poll area.

Poll watchers cannot wear clothing with political advertisements or any campaign paraphernalia, including hats, buttons, wristbands or badges in the polling place. (Voters are allowed to do so)

What is the main function of a poll watcher?

The main function of a poll watcher is to observe the activities at the polling place.

  1. The first poll watcher of the election day has the right to see that the ballot box is empty before the first ballot is cast.
  2. A poll watcher may observe the distribution of the ballot to the voter and after the voter has voted the depositing of ballot into the ballot box.
  3. If the poll watcher observes what he thinks might be a violation, he/she may question a voter's privilege by stating his/her case to the election board. Remember, the election board consists of the poll workers at that precinct.
  4. The poll watcher may observe the counting of the ballots when the polls close.

Are there any important points to remember as a poll watcher?

A poll watcher is not allowed to talk to any person in the polling place except when questioning a procedure. No poll watcher may wear anything advertising a candidacy or promo­ting for or against an issue. Poll watchers are official observers only. They may observe the conduct of the election before, during and after the polls close.

All poll watchers must be certified by the Supervisor of Elections Office. The list of certified poll watchers is prepared by the Supervisor of Elections office. The election board is the sole authority in the polling place on election day. No person, except the board, may handle or touch election supplies and materials. If the poll watcher feels that a violation has taken place during an election, the poll watcher must notify the election board.

Electioneering, campaigning or solicitation within one hundred (100) feet of the entrance to the polling room is prohibited.

If you feel a poll watcher or anyone else at an election office has tried to impede your ability to vote, call your county supervisor of elections office. We also have a list of contacts in our "How to Report a Voting Issue" story.