Missouri Secretary of State and the attorney general filed a lawsuit Monday aimed at stopping the Justice Department from interfering with polling places on Election Day.

“No one is above the law,” Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said in a statement. “The law clearly and specifically limits the number of people who can go to polling places and this action by DOJ is not authorized. Once again, the federal government is attempting to illegally interfere in Missouri’s elections.”

The lawsuit comes after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced last week that it would deploy election observers to 86 election jurisdictions across 27 states, including Republican-led states like Florida and states run by Democrats, like California.

DOJ deployed election observers at polling places nationwide since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in an effort to better ensure fair access to the ballot and prevent partisan influence, according to the Washington Post. The number of jurisdictions expected to be monitored this year represents a 49% increase from the 2020 election and roughly matches the number of jurisdictions DOJ monitored two decades ago during the 2004 election.

REPUBLICANS EARN VICTORY IN GEORGIA FIGHT AGAINST ELECTION OBSERVERS, RNC CHAIRMAN SAYS

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft testifies during a Senate Rules and Administration Committee hearing in the Russell Building titled “Election Security Preparations: A State and Local Perspective,” June 20, 2018. (Photo by Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Ashcroft explained that in 2022, Missouri authorities banned the DOJ to enter and monitor polling locations, citing that the state has been identified as leading “the nation in election integrity as it relates to accessible and secure voting with credible and timely results ”, according to organizations such as the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Voters cast their ballots at a polling place at Hazelwood Central High School on November 8, 2016 in Florissant, Missouri. (Getty Images)

“It’s a rehearsal,” Ashcroft continued. “Two years ago, we met with the DOJ. We showed them the law and explained to them that they had no jurisdiction to interfere in Missouri’s elections. Now they are doing the same thing: they are trying to go through the back door by contacting local election officials and making false jurisdictional claims to gain access rather than contacting my office directly The DOJ just doesn’t seem to get it – we don’t need that here. we don’t want them here file a complaint against the DOJ to get it to stop the continued harassment.

DOJ DEPLOYS DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICIALS TO HANDLE “THREATS AND INTIMIDATION”

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey speaks to members of the press at the Old Post Office in downtown St. Louis, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2024. (Vanessa Abbitt/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Florida also banned federal polling station observers in 2022.

Fox News Digital reached out to the DOJ for comment Monday morning, but did not immediately receive a response.

“Rather than contaminate the process – like in Virginia and Alabama, the DOJ should view the Show-Me State as an example for other states when it comes to nonpartisan, robust elections,” Ashcroft continued . “It would be entirely inappropriate for federal agents to break the law by intimidating Missouri voters and harassing election workers.”

YOUNGKIN RESPONDS TO DOJ’S LAWSUIT FOR “COMMON SENSE” LAW THAT EXTRACTS NON-CITIZENS FROM VOTER ROLLS

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks to staff during his first day at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC, March 11, 2021. (Photo by KEVIN DIETSCH/AFP via Getty Images)

“The Secretary of State’s Office has full confidence in our election authorities. The vote has been underway for several weeks and we are ready for election day. I want to personally thank the 116 local election authorities and thousands of election workers across Missouri who make our elections safe, secure and credible. »

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Missouri is expected to vote for the Republican ticket again in the general election after voting for the old one President Donald Trump by 15 points in 2020 and by almost 19 points in 2016.

Get the latest 2024 election campaign updates, exclusive interviews and more on our Fox News Digital election hub.