November 3, 2014

U.S. Attorney’s Office Reminds New Jersey Voters to Use Election Day Hotline for Complaints of Voting Irregularities or Abuses

NEWARK, NJ—Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, is New Jersey’s general election, and U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman is reminding voters to use the Election Day Hotline if they suspect voter fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will receive and respond to reports of election irregularities, voter intimidation or any other activities that would interfere with a citizen’s right to vote. The Election Day Hotline—(888) 636-6596—is active now through Nov. 5, 2014, and will be staffed live on Election Day in English and in Spanish.

The Department of Justice and federal law enforcement partners will work with county boards of election and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office to respond to complaints and direct them to the appropriate authority.

The Justice Department seeks to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots and have their votes counted, without discrimination, intimidation or fraud.

Established in 2010, this yearly initiative is intended to foster public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Justice Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on Election Day.

The Justice Department and federal investigative agencies, led by the FBI, work cooperatively with the state Attorney General’s Office, under the direction of Acting Attorney General John Jay Hoffman, to enforce voters’ rights at the polls.

The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division staff in Washington also will be available by phone to receive complaints related to voting rights (1-800-253-3931 toll free or 202-307-2767) or by TTY (202-305-0082). In addition, individuals may also report complaints, problems, or concerns related to voting by fax to 202-307-3961, by e-mail to voting.section@usdoj.gov, and, by complaint forms that may be submitted through a link on the Department’s website, at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.