The U.S. Department of Justice plans to send election monitors to Marion and Lake counties for November’s midterm election, but local officials say they don’t know why the department selected those counties or exactly what the monitors will do.

The Marion County Election Board received notice Wednesday that federal monitors plan to observe election procedures for compliance with federal law, according to the Marion County Clerk’s Office.

Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell says federal officials have not explained why they chose the two counties or what criteria they used.

The election board recently approved a policy outlining how poll workers should handle interactions with DOJ officials and other federal agents.

Sweeney Bell says the county is prepared to conduct the election professionally and transparently while protecting eligible voters from intimidation or disruption.

Early voting is underway in Indiana ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.