Election complaints program announced

U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit has announced that assistant U.S. attorneys across the state will oversee the Justice Department's Election Day Program for the Nov. 5 general election.

The attorneys will serve as district election officers, handling complaints about voting rights, threats against election officials and election fraud.

"The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy," Hurwit stated. "We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. We will be prepared to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election."

The Justice Department works to prevent discrimination and intimidation at polls, threats against election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The program provides local contacts for reporting possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against crimes such as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. The Voting Rights Act ensures voters can mark their own ballots or receive assistance if they have a disability or cannot read or write in English.

"Every eligible citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process," Hurwit said.

Those wishing to report violations can contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho at 208-334-1211 or by email at usaid.civilrights@usdoj.gov. Complaints can also be filed directly with the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931 or through their website at civilrights.justice.gov.

The FBI will have special agents available throughout the country on Election Day. The Salt Lake City field office, which covers Idaho, can be reached at 1-801-579-1400.

"Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice," Hurwit said.