# House Republicans Send 'Dozens and Dozens' of Staff to Watch Ballot Counting in Close Midterm Races, Steil Says

House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil says this year's congressional observer program is the biggest the House has run. Observers will document counting in close races and flag problems that could lead to recounts or lawsuits.

- Section: [Politics](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/politics/)
- Published: 2026-10-26
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/house-republicans-dozens-election-observers-midterms-steil-most-robust-program-fox-news/

House Republicans are putting "dozens and dozens" of congressional staffers in the field on Nov. 3 to watch voting and ballot counting in tight races, Fox News reports.

The program. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., who chairs the Committee on House Administration, told Fox News Digital this is "the most robust program the House has ever done." The committee runs an observer program every cycle, aimed at districts expected to be close. Steil said many House races are likely to be tight and "the balance of power" is at stake.

What observers do. They record what they see and report it to Steil and the committee on Election Day, so lawyers can move fast if a court challenge is needed. "They are the first step in identifying if there is a problem," Steil said. Their notes could support recounts or lawsuits.

California in the crosshairs. Steil said shifts will vary by state. In places that run orderly counts, such as Florida, he said observers may finish early in the evening. In California, he said, shifts "go on for days on end" because ballots can arrive after polls close. He described visiting a Los Angeles County central count location two years ago and watching ballots arrive days after the election. He also recalled a tabulation problem in Milwaukee that left thousands of ballots to be recounted.

The rules. Fox says observer access is protected under the Confirmation of Congressional Observer Access Act, passed in 2024. Any House staffer except interns can take part. Democrats may run their own program under the law, Fox says, but they do not coordinate with Republicans.

Note for readers: the claims about California's and other states' election practices are Steil's. Fox does not say how many observers are going or which districts they will cover.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/inside-house-gops-unprecedented-push-monitor-midterm-elections-prepare-legal-fights)