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Press Release

U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago Announces Telephone Hotline To Report Voting Rights Complaints on Election Day

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois

CHICAGO — John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will operate a telephone hotline on Election Day (Nov. 8, 2022) to receive complaints related to the voting process.

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing a local point of contact for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

A crucial part of our democracy is the integrity of our electoral system,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch.  “A citizen who is entitled to vote should not be hindered or prevented from doing so.  Similarly, election officials and staff must not be subject to unlawful threats of violence.  Our office stands ready to help ensure the sanctity of the voting process.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys and other staff will monitor the hotline and respond to complaints, as needed.  The hotline numbers, staffed on Election Day only, are (312) 469-6157 and (312) 469-6158.

Complaints can also be made directly to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. by phone at (800) 253-3931 or online at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.

In addition, the FBI Chicago Field Office will have special agents and other staff available on Election Day to receive allegations of election fraud or other election-related complaints.  The phone number for the FBI Chicago Field Office is (312) 421-6700.

Federal laws protect the rights of voters to mark their own ballot or be assisted by a person of their choice.  Federal laws protect against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes.  Violations of federal election laws could result in prison time and monetary fines.  For information as to the location and hours of polling sites, Illinois residents are advised to contact the Illinois State Board of Elections by logging on to www.elections.il.gov or by calling (312) 814-6440.

Updated October 28, 2022

Topics
Office and Personnel Updates
Voting and Elections
Civil Rights
Community Outreach