U.S. Attorney Issues Press Release on Upcoming Elections

United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced today that Alphonso Andrews, an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, is the local point of contact for reporting complaints concerning discriminatory voting practices, election fraud, voter harassment or intimidation, and other voting rights violations.

“Election fraud and voting rights abuses dilute the value of honestly cast votes,” U.S. Attorney Sharpe said. “They also corrupt the essence of our representative form of government. As crimes against both the individual and the government, they will be dealt with promptly and aggressively.”

As part of the U.S. Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 2, 2010, general elections, AUSA Andrews has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of voter complaints in consultation with the Justice Department in Washington, D.C.

Eight years ago, former Attorney General John Ashcroft 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 Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.

“The right to vote in fair elections is the cornerstone of American democracy,” U.S. Attorney Sharpe said. “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote are free to do so, while 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 2, 2010, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Andrews will be on duty while the polls are open. He can be reached at 773-3920. Voters may file complaints directly with the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. at 800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation will also have special agents available in the Virgin Islands to receive allegations of election fraud, intimidation, suppression and other election abuses. To file complaints with the FBI, voters may call 777-3363.

“The effectiveness of our Election Day Program depends in large part on the watchfulness and cooperation of the American electorate,” U.S. Attorney Sharpe said. “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.”

For more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws, visit www.justice.gov/crt/voting/index.php.