close
close

How to Report Election Day Threats and Fraud in Shasta County

How to Report Election Day Threats and Fraud in Shasta County

play

As the Nov. 5 general election approaches, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento has appointed a monitor to protect the 2024 vote by investigating voter rights issues, threats of violence against public officials and workers elections and complaints of electoral fraud.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also provided contact information for several federal agencies that are working to address election-related complaints. For crimes of violence and intimidation, citizens are urged not to wait for a response from federal authorities, but rather to call 911 immediately.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and have their vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert in announcing the appointment of Kevin C. Khasigian as Chief Justice. district elections. “Similarly, public officials and election staff must be able to serve without being subjected to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

Lauren Horwood, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office, said Khasigian’s team would treat all counties the same.

“His role and that of our office is to be experts in election law, advising on issues that arise throughout the day and evening. Most complaints would be directed to the FBI,” he said. -she declared in an email.

In his role, Khasigian, who serves as an Assistant U.S. Attorney – and others who serve in similar roles nationally – will work closely with the U.S. Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, DC.

At the local level, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office works with the county elections office and other agencies on Election Day security.

“Along with our allied law enforcement agencies, Shasta County Sheriff’s deputies will be on patrol and will be able to respond to any calls for service at polling locations based on the location of any reported incidents. The Sheriff’s Office “Shasta County is working cooperatively with state and federal officials in the event an incident rises to this level of involvement,” Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tim Mapes said in a letter. electronic.

How to report possible voter intimidation and other election concerns

Khasigian will be on duty in the Eastern district while polls open. The public can call him at 916-554-2723.

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. We must all ensure that those who have the right to vote can exercise it if they wish, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights issues or voter fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice,” Talbert wrote.

The FBI will also have special agents in each of its field offices and resident agencies across the country to receive and investigate allegations of voter fraud and other Election Day abuses. The local FBI office can be contacted at 916-746-7000.

Complaints regarding possible violations of federal voting rights laws may be filed directly with the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC, by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by telephone at 800-253-3931.

In the event of a crime of violence or intimidation, citizens are urged to call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.

“State and local law enforcement have primary jurisdiction at polling locations and almost always have more rapid response capability in an emergency,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

The United States Eastern District of California responds to complaints filed in these counties

The Eastern District spans 34 counties in interior California, from the borders of Oregon in the north and Nevada in the east to Kern County in the south. Coverage includes Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties.

The DOJ has an obligation to ensure election security and address violations so that American citizens have confidence in the electoral process.

The statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office released Wednesday said in part:

“Federal law protects against crimes such as threats of violence against election officials or staff, voter intimidation or bribery, vote buying and selling, voter impersonation, altering vote counts, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking voters’ ballots against their will or without their input It also contains special protections for voters’ rights and provides that they can vote without interference, including. including against intimidation, and against other acts aimed at preventing or discouraging people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person. of their choice (when voters require assistance due to disability or inability to read or write in English).”