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Press Release

U.S. Attorney for Idaho Names Election Day Contacts

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

BOISE – United States Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) Jack Haycock, Ray Patricco and Traci Whelan will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 6, 2018, general election.  AUSAs Haycock, Patricco and Whelan have been appointed to serve as District Election Officers for the District of Idaho, and in that capacity are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of 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 their vote properly counted,” said U.S. Attorney Davis.  “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 combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.  The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also 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, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.  For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law.  Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).

“The franchise is the cornerstone of our American system of governance,” said Davis.  “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.”

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 6, 2018, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Davis stated that AUSAs Haycock, Patricco and Whelan will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.  They can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers:

  • (208) 251-0589 in Pocatello for AUSA Haycock;
  • (208) 334-9118 in Boise for AUSA Patricco; and
  • (208) 676-7344 in Coeur d’Alene for AUSA Whelan.

Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (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.  For matters in eastern and southern Idaho, FBI agents in Boise can be reached by the public at (208) 344-7843 and for matters in northern Idaho, FBI agents in Coeur d’Alene can be reached by the public at (208) 664-5128.

After Election Day, complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the District of Idaho Civil Chief, AUSA Nicholas Woychick at (208) 334-9120 or the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, D.C. by phone at 1 (800) 253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov or by complaint form at justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake.

“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate,” said Davis.  “It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

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Contact

CASSIE FULGHUM
Public Information Officer
(208) 334-1211

Updated August 10, 2021

Topics
Community Outreach
Voting and Elections
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