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Press Release

Election Day Officer and Investigators on Duty to Examine Complaints of Fraud or Voter Rights Abuses

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

Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Arlen Storm will lead efforts in the Western District of Washington in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program with respect to the upcoming November 4, 2014, general elections.  AUSA Storm has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Washington, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington DC.  
                                                                                               
             “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and know that their vote will be counted without the corrosion of fraud,” said Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.”

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, Acting United States Attorney Hayes stated that AUSA/DEO Storm will be on duty in this District until voting is complete.  He can be reached by members of the public at the following telephone numbers: 206-553-7970 or 253-428-3800. 

            The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination, 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.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, 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.  Federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.

            In addition, the 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.  Complaints can be called in to the FBI at 206-622-0460.

            Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can also be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington 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 http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.

Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate.   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.”

Updated March 20, 2015