U.S. Attorney Names District Election Officer

SACRAMENTO, CA—United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Khasigian will serve as district election officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of California for the November 6, 2012 general elections. The DEO is responsible for overseeing complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud,” U.S. Attorney Wagner said. “The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls and will combat violations whenever and wherever they occur. The department seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on Election Day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. Actions designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places, such as questioning or challenging them or photographing or videotaping them under the pretext of uncovering illegal voting, may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballots or to be assisted by a person of their choice.

While polls are open on Election Day, Khasigian can be reached by the public in the Eastern District of California at the following telephone numbers: (916) 554-2700 and (916) 554-2723.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The FBI can be reached by the public in the Eastern District of California at (916) 481-9110.

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