(The monitors are armed, and to me seem to be there more to intimidate minority voters, than to be trying to prevent any kind of voter fraud.)

A federal judge declined to approve an emergency order to stop activists from gathering at and around ballot drop boxes to monitor voters.

Why it matters: The activists claim they are doing so to prevent purported voter fraud, but voting rights groups have called the move a voter intimidation tactic. Election officials have reported people in tactical gear and masks — and allegedly armed with weapons — watching over a drop box for mail-in ballots.

Catch up quick: The nonprofits Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino filed a lawsuit Monday asking for an injunction against Clean Elections USA, an organization that has mobilized Trump supporters on Truth Social to hold "ballot tailgate parties," NBC News reports. ...