U.S. Attorney’s Office to Monitor Chicago Mayoral Election
Election Day Hotline: (312) 469-6157

CHICAGO—Consistent with a long-standing practice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor the mayoral primary election in Chicago on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced today. As part of the monitoring effort, the office will operate an Election Day hotline for candidates or the public to call to report any complaints relating to voting. In addition, Assistant U.S. Attorneys will be available to respond to complaints as needed.

The hotline number, staffed on Election Day only, is (312) 469-6157.

“Monitoring the polls on Election Day is a long-established practice of this office,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “We stand ready to protect the voting rights of individuals who are entitled to vote while, at the same time, protecting the integrity of the poll results from anyone who would seek to corrupt the election.”

Coordination of the monitoring efforts and subsequent investigations, if any, will be directed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Heinze. The Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service will assist in this effort by following up, if necessary, on any election fraud complaints.

Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can also be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington at 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767.

Violations of federal voting rights statutes carry penalties ranging from one to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $250,000.