Los Angeles-Based Federal Prosecutor to Serve as Election Officer During November 2, 2010 General Election

As part of the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming general elections, Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Dennis Mitchell will again serve as the District Election Officer during the November 2, 2010 general election, United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. announced today. Since 2006, AUSA Mitchell has served as District Election Officer to handle citizen complaints concerning potential violations of the federal Voting Rights Act.

As District Election Officer during next week’s balloting, AUSA Mitchell will ensure that complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses made to federal authorities will be properly handled and, if appropriate, thoroughly investigated.

AUSA Mitchell will serve as District Election Officer for the Central District of California, which includes the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.

“Every allegation of any voting rights abuse is an extremely serious matter,” said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. “Every citizen is entitled to vote without interference or discrimination. Citizens should not hesitate to report possible violations of voting rights laws.”

Eight years ago, the Justice Department established a Department-wide Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative. The goals of this ongoing Initiative are to increase the Department’s ability to deter election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and to prosecute these offenses 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 Justice Department, so that members of the public have a place to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day. For further information, see: http://www.justice.gov/crt/voting/index.php.

The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that those who are entitled to vote exercise their right if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt the franchise are brought to justice.

To take complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 2 and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, District Election Officer Dennis Mitchell will be on duty at the United States Attorney’s Office. The public can call (213) 894-2484 to report possible election fraud and voting rights abuses.

In addition, the FBI Field Office in Los Angeles will have special agents available to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The phone number for the FBI Field Office in Los Angeles is (310) 477-6565.

“A fair electoral process is essential in ensuring that the rights of all voting citizens are protected,” said Steven Martinez, Assistant Director of the FBI. “The FBI is committed to maintaining the integrity of the voting process by investigating allegations of fraud or other misconduct.”

Complaints about access to ballots or voting discrimination also may be made directly to the Voting Section at the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department in Washington at (800) 253-3931 or (202) 307-2767.

United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. stressed that the effectiveness of the Justice Department’s Election Day Program depends in large part on the watchfulness and cooperation of the American electorate. Therefore, anyone with specific information about discrimination or election fraud should make that information available immediately to the District Election Officer, the FBI or the Civil Rights Division in Washington.